11.—37.

The manufacture of certain classes of aircraft accumulators is now being carried out within the Dominion. A variety of items of aeronautical equipment, such as blind-flying hoods, electrical fittings, rubber parts, piston-rings, and other engine and airframe details, has been manufactured in the Dominion during the past year. (iii) Field Inspection. The reduction in civil aviation activities as a result of the war has brought about a reduction in the number of field inspections of civil aircraft. During the year ending 31 ot March, 292 field inspections covering aircraft, firms operating under the Department's " approval," local production, and the supervision of licensed ground engineers were carried out by the inspection staff of the Division. (iv) A.I.D. Test-house. Tests carried out by the Division are summarized below : — Aircraft instruments tested .. .. .. .. .. 212 Material tests .. .. .. .. .. .. 123 Tests on welded specimens .. .. . . . . . . 51 The major portion of the test equipment referred to in this Division's previous report has now come to hand, and it is anticipated that within three months this equipment will be in operation in the new test-house at Hobsonville. The equipment of the original test-house at Headquarters will be transferred to the new test-house, and all testing will be carried out at Hobsonville in the future. (v) Airworthiness and Drawing Office. The work of this section of the Division in respect of civil aviation is summarized below : — New drawings prepared .. .. .. . . 42 Prints prepared .. . . .. .. . 46 Sets of drawings checked .. .. .. .. .. 5 Prints issued to operators .. .. .. .. 199 In connection with local production, the section prepared drawings, and engaged in original design of items of ground equipment for the Service. (vi) Accidents to Civil Aircraft. There were four notifiable accidents or forced landings of civil aircraft in the year ended 31st March, 1941. No injury to an occupant of an aircraft occurred during this period. An analysis of accidents is as follows : —

(vii) Causes of Accidents. Ail aircraft operating on a regular air service was charged during take-off by a cattle beast. Minor damage only was caused to the wing structure of the machine. A twin-engined aircraft operating on a regular air service was forced to land on a registered aerodrome owing to the failure in flight of one engine. No damage to the aircraft resulted from this landing. The pilot of a private machine misjudged the direction of the wind while landing on a secondary aerodrome, which caused him to run into a haystack 011 the edge of the landing area. Minor damage only resulted from this error of judgment. Due to engine-failure while in flight, a private machine was forced to land on a registered aerodrome. No damage was caused to the aircraft as a result of this landing. I have, &c., R. C. Kean, Controller of Aeronautical Inspection.

14

Injury to Persons. Damage to Aircraft. Cause. ciass - i i h i c t 7TT7~*i \~Z § o o 02 S 6 O —3 -3 5 b V 13 dT^rrj-* 3 .2 d el an rj -M -a g j* a O O 9 *2 etf M *H -M O °!3 •>-* Si 5Pt2 P bn co cd 00 "fH Sf <D *Crt t! rSP Li2 d m © g g< rS'g H GQ M *-* 1. Regular air services .. 2 .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 .. I .. 1 2. Other flying for hire .. 1 .. .. .. 1 .. 1 1 3. Private .. .. 1 .. .. •■ .. 1 .. .. .. 1 Total .. .. 4 2 2 .. 2 2 1