ENGINE DEFECT

Evening Star, Issue 23694, 30 September 1940, Page 4

ENGINE DEFECT

CUPPER RETURNS TO AUCKLAND TRISO FLIGHT POSTPONED [Pea United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, September 28. The Pan-American Airways Honolulu Clipper took off at 7.49 this morning from the company’s base at Mechanics*Bay on the return flight to America. Twenty minutes later, when in the vicinity of Whangarei Heads, she turned back fOr Auckland as a slight defect was discovered in the No. 3 engine. The Clipper was carrying 12 passengers and about 3001 b of New Zealand mail and 1451 b of New_ Zealand freight, as well as a quantity of through; mail and freight from Australia. The date of the departure of the Clipper has not been -definitely determined. Mechanics were working on the machine at the week-end, and it was thought to-day. that a new engine would be fitted and the machine testflown in time for her tb leave on Wednesday or Thursday morning. _ The Clipper was in the vicinity of Whangarei Heads when a slight roughness in one engine became apparent. Tests were made in flight, and one of the safety features made possible by the great size of the aircraft was put into operation. To avoid any further damage being caused' the engine was shut off and the blades of the full-feathering air screw were turned so that the propeller would nob continue to revolve. The engineers then walked along the passageway provided inside the wing and made routing tests before it was decided to return. Using three engines, which are capable of maintaining the machine in flight with a comfortable margin, the Clipper returned to Auckland without difficulty.