PLANE FORCED DOWN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20281, 16 April 1934, Page 3

PLANE FORCED DOWN.

Propeller Smashes in Mid-air. A Spartan aeroplane owned by West Coast Airways and piloted by Mr A. H. Nancekivell made a forced landing in a ploughed paddock on Hawkins’s Road, Marshland, on Saturday afternoon. The propeller flew into pieces in mid-air when the pilot was over Marshland. He circled round, and made a perfect landing in the property of Mr FI. Kingston. The ’plane was not damaged in any way. Neither pilot nor passenger was hurt. The passenger was Mr A. ,T. M’Dowell, secretary of the Grey Power Board. The ’plane left Hokitika for Christchurch about midday, but was unable to cross Arthur’s Pass: The pilot turned back to Greymouth, refuelled and came across the Lewis Pass safely. When 2000 ft above Marshland the propeller broke in half and the pilot glided safely down. The propeller was found later about a quarter of a mile away. Interviewed later, Mr Nancekivell said that he did not strike trouble until he neared Christchurch. “I felt a sudden vibration,” he said. “ The propeller broke without warning and flew off. “ The paddock in which I landed was the only one for some distance around, and it was certainly the high nor’-wester that ‘saved our bacon.’ We were at 2000 ft when the mishap occurred, and it was this that gave me the opportunity of gliding to a safe landing.” One of the bolts on the propeller boss was snapped completely off, and the other two were bent. The propeller was broken clean in half. The ’plane was towed to Wigram Aerodrome yesterday and a new propeller will be fitted this morning. It is Mr Nancekivell’s intention to leave for Hokitika this afternoon.