LOSS OF FLYING-BOAT CAVALIER

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 155, 27 March 1939, Page 9

LOSS OF FLYING-BOAT CAVALIER

Report Of Investigation Board (British Official Wireless.) (Received March 26, 6.30 p.m.), RUGBY. March 2i>. , The report of the Air Ministry’s Chief Inspector of Accidents, Wing Commander Vernon Brown, on the loss of the Imperial Airways flying boat Cavalier at sea on January 21, is now published. The Cavalier sank after a forced descent some 285 miles south-east of Port Washington., Long Island, two of the eight passengers and one of the crew of live losing their Lives.

Among the principal conclusions reached by the Chief Inspector are that the forced descent, was due to fading engines caused by a complete loss of power of the I wo inner engines, and the partial loss of power of the two outer engines. This was the result of carburettor trouble caused by icing. Sea conditions were too severe to make a good landing possible. As a result of damage caused to the. hull in alighting, the cabins were quickly flooded ami ab'out 15 minutes later the Cavalier broke iu half aft of the rear spur, ami sank. No blame can be attributed lu the captain or the first officer, who behaved with great coolness throughout. All Bi'ilish legul.i I ions under which the Cavalier uas, operated were complied with. The report stales that the invesligal ion board made a number ol reeonimendalions for iuquii) ami research with which tin- clih-l' ni.-peclor agrees.