PILOT PROTESTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 170, 5 August 1937, Page 3

PILOT PROTESTS

-Press Association.)

Big Bay Aeroplane Crash

fBy Telegraph -

INVERCARGILL, August 3. The following statement was made to-night by Mr. Bradshaw.:— r In the report of the board of enquiry is a iinding of negligence against me as pilot of the machine. Owing to the enquiry being held in camera, in spite of my objections, the full evidence has not been made available to the public to read, but referenco to parts of it is made in the report. The evidence given by Pilot Clarke and myself that the machine would glido safely at 70 milcs an hour is not mentioned. I questinned -the aceuraey of the evidence given of a stalling speed of 65 miles an hour and asked that tests be made with a similar machine at present in use in New ZealanJ. This request has been ignoxed. The evidence of a plate screwed in the cockpit of the machine for tho information of pilots has also been igaored. This plate reads as follows: — "Cliinb at 65 miles an hour; stalling speed 50 miles an hour on normal load.' ' I cabled the makers of thc De Havilland Company as follows: — "Ro Fox 2 KADC: Makers plate states -stalling speed normal load fifty. What would stalling speed be with total yeight 20001bs., conditions normal, height abcve sea level 200 feet? Information required in connection with enquiry?" They replied: "Stalling speed 18001bs, 37.5 miles an hour, 20001b. 50 miles an hour." The findiug of negligence by the board is based on evidence that the machine would stall at between 60 and 65 miles an hour, which is 10 to 15 uiiles an hour above the stalling speed given by the. makers for a full load of 20001bs. Had tests been carried out as I requested, the inaccuracy of the evidence of a stalling speed of between 60 and 65 miles an hour would have been proved. In -.airness to myself, I wish to put the above facts before the public in order that they may appreciate the evidence on which my Teputation as a pilot has been attacked. I cannot claim space to deal with the other statements in the report, but wish to point out that the tot£fl load of the machine at the time of tho accident was bclow that allowed by the certificate of airworthiness for the machine issued by the Aviation Department. - '