Small Plane Forced Down On Racecourse

Chronicle (Levin), 11 October 1948, Page 4

Small Plane Forced Down On Racecourse

■ When the' jsmall low-wlnged monopiane he was flying developed engine trouble over Levin at about 3.15 on Saturday afternooh, the pilot, Mr. Pat Adams, of Wellington, was forced to make a landing on the centre of the Levin racecourse. The plane a Wellington Aero Club Miles Magester, ZK-ANK, was flying to Palmerston North with" a passenger, Mr. Frank Ewes, also of Wellington. Over Paraparaumu the plane's engine had begun to run roughly, said Mr. Adams, but it had picked Up. Just a s the plane approached Levin, the engine coughed and died, forcing him to quickly choose a spot fqr an emergency landing. He observed the racecourse and after a hurried survey to see that there were no obstacles in the way, "put her down." He 'had not known of the emergency ground at Weraroa. The passenger, who is also an experienced . aircraftman, voiced his admiration of the way in which the pilot had brought the machine down. "It was pne of the neatest landings I have seen," he said. After landing, Mr. Adams telephoned the Civil Aviation authorities in Wellington and a ngfechanic was flown up to Levin in a Tiger Moth. The ground was inspected fOr any hidflen obstacles, and to s'how the pilot of the Moth the wind direction long branches were cut from some trees close by. The mechanic discovered that the fault lay in a broken valve and rocker arm g'ear in one of the Magester 's cylinders. The broken parts were taken back to Wellington in the Moth, and spares were brought up' by car yesterday morning and fitted on. t'he field. The plane's engine was running again about 4 o'clock and shortly after, the Tiger Moth landed with an offtcial who flew it off. On account of the small wing lift of the Magester, one of the tanks had to be emptied an'd only the pilot went off with it. After a long: run, it cleared the field and was airborne about 5.30 p.m.