FORCED LANDING OF AIRCRAFT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 21, 20 October 1943, Page 4

FORCED LANDING OF AIRCRAFT

Recommendations Of Board Of Inquiry The opinion that the regular keeping and recording of a flight engineer’s log on aircraft carrying a flight engineer was a most important duty and that it should lie made obligatory' is expressed by the Board of Inquiry appointed to investigate the forced landing of a Tasman Empire Airways’ aircraft during an overseas flight from Sydney to Auckland on April 14 last. The board recommended that the requisite amendment be made to the Air Navigation Regulations, 1933. In releasing the report the Minister in Charge of Civil Aviation, Mr. Jones, said that the recommendations of the board had been accepted and were being implemented through the medium of the company’s approved Operations Manual which would have the same effect as if they were implemented by an amendment to the regulations as recommended by the (board. The members of the bodrd were Mr. W. F. Stilwell. S.M.. Wing Commander G. B. Bolt, R.N.Z.A.F.. and Wing Commander H. B. Burrel. R.N.Z.A.F. After outlining the facts of* the case they said that the dominant factor in the decision to land was the failure of the starboard engine. No blame could be attached to any member of the aircraft crew for the failure of tiie engine. "In our view tiie captain of the aircraft acted properly and prudently in deciding to make tho emergency landing he did,” states tiie report of the board. “From Hie evidence submitted, however, it is clear that during this flight the flight engineer should have been in closer touch with the captain than he actually was. Instances were recorded where he had to be called, which indicates he was not in close proximity to the captain or with the working of the engines. This might in certain circumstances be vital ami is at all times necessary. We recommend that Tasman Empire Airways Limited lie dirreted to arrange in detail for this to lie observed. “Tiie flight folio kept iby the captain of the aircraft was before us for our informtition. No separate log was, however, kept by tho flight engineer respecting his activities, nor doos it appear from the existing regulations that such a record is obligatory.”