FLYING-BOAT DAMAGED AFTER ALIGHTING AT EVANS BAY BASE

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 October 1950, Page 6

FLYING-BOAT DAMAGED AFTER ALIGHTING AT EVANS BAY BASE

WELLINGTON, Yesterday (PAL— The port float of the flying-boat Ararangi war ripped away by a heavy sea shortly after the flying-boat landed in Evans Bay from Auc’»and this morning. QuicK work by the Solent’s crew saved the si.:p and Drought her to a safe anchorage

Piloted by Captain P de Couteur, the Ararangi made a perfect landing through blinding rain in the teeth of a strong southerly buster and was beginning to lose way. when a wave pounded the float, to leave it hanging by a strut. Almus' before the Sclent had time to list heavily. Captain le Couteur had revved up the port engines to star Use his ship, and members of the crew were crawling out of the escape hatch on to tile starboard w:ng, to provide the ballast necessary to prevent her from rolling on to her port side. Although assistance came quickly from the Civil Aviation Department's control launches, some of the men on the wing suffered fairly severe exposure, and one of them almost slipped into the sea when he lost his hold on the wing. An ambulance was called, but its services were not needed.

Besides damage to the float, the port wingis buckled and pieces have been torn out of it. The exact extent of the damage cannot be ascertained until an improvement in the weather allows for a proper inspection. Because of the lack of facilities at the Evans Bay base, it is thought likely that the flying-boat may have to be taken upon the patent slip for repairs, and that staff will have to be brought from Auckland. Meanwhile the Ararangi is moored off the Evans Bay clubhouse. The Wellington-Sydney flight was cancelled today, following the mishap. The Air Secretary, Mr. T. A. Barrow, whowas quickly on the scene after the accident, said the 35 pasengers would be flown to Auckland by the Aotearoa tomorrow and transhipped there to a Syndey-bound Solent. The Aotearoa, which arrived from Sydney today, will need to be serviced before making another Tasman crossing. Besides Captain le Couteur, the Ararangi’s crew included First Officer T. Brewer, Flight Engineer L. Goldier, Radio Officer, D. Reid, Flight Stewards Gordon and Homling and Flight Stewardess J. Kelly. The T.E.A.L's chief engineer. Mr. G. B. Bolt, was also on the flying-boat when it arrived. Head winds delayed the arrival ot the flying-boat Aotearoa from Sydney by an hour and a-half today, and she did not touch down until 8.30 a.m.

Subject to weather conditions, temporary repairs are expected to be finished by Friday. In the meantime, two engineers will sleep aboard the aircraft each night. Passengers bound for Sydney were accommodated in Wellington tonight and are to leave on the Aotearoa for Auckland at 8 a.m. tomorrow. Alter a short service inspection the aircraft will leave for Sydney at 1 p.m. The captain of the Aotearoa, Captain D. J. Keesing, said that the conditions were the’ worst likely to be encountered in Wellington. Even then, he said, they gave no cause for concern, and pilots had landed in worse conditions at Auckland and Sydney. It was stated that a was a small trough following a wave which sheared off the float and this was not caused by the wind. Captain Keesing said losing a float is quite a common happening. There had been two similar previous incidents to Tasman Air. ways. It happened in all parts of the world.

Mr T. Barrow Air Secretary and a director of T.E.A.L., stated yesterday that the company is not unduly worried about the incident and it would not affect the service. He said the pilots were not worried by the conditions. If they had been they had alternative landing places, but it was not considered necessary to use them.