AERIAL ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1929, Page 3

AERIAL ENQUIRY

INTO AUCKLAND CRASH. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Dec, 16. 0 An inquiry into the fatal Seaplane crash opened this morning. A feature of the evidence was the declaration by Captain W. Mann who 1 had /himself flown the ’plane, that the fatal flight was involuntary. He said Harkness was a most careful and responsible pilot, who would not have thought of flying in his shirt sleeves and without a helmet as he was found. ‘He would never have voluntarily • taken a passenger with him, not even the mechanic. Referring to the finding of a large stone, witness said he believed they put stone in the boat to ballast it for taxying and that while they were taxying the engine developed more revolutions than they expected and the machine left the water. The pilot would then have to manoeuvre for a good landing and witness believed that when the accident happened, the mechanic was trying to shift the large stone which afterwards was found jammed Against the bodies.

THE INQUEST. AUCKLAND, Dec. 16. At the flying boat inquiry, Captain Mann, continuing, said that he last flew the flying boat last Wednesday, and he had no idea that' Captain Harkness would fly it on the following day. Harkness had never been in the machine, when it was off, the water. Harkness was a very levelheaded man, fully appreciating that a flying boat required handling different from that of an aeroplane. “I am convinced,” said witness, “he had iio intention of flying when he took the machine out on Thursday.” Witness continued: ‘‘He had every respect for caution in flying, and lie would have discussed it with me if he had any plans regarding flying the machine. Mrs Harkness is also convinced that he did not intend to fly. Witness said his conviction "as strengthened by the fact that Harkness wore no flying kit when lie took the flying bout on its fatal trip, although he was very particular about such equipment. Major Isitt: Do you know anything about the stone which was found in the cockpit when the bodies were removed ?

Witness: I believe it was carried for ballast, and was intended to improve the attitude oi the machine for taxi-ing tests on the water. Witness said that, although the flying boat “was thoroughly airworthy when he flew last Wednesday, at no time since its assembly had full efficiency been obtained. In his opinion the stone ballast was used to alter the trim of the flying boat ior taxiing. In examining the wreckage witness found both the petrol taps in the “on” position, and he thought that the pilot must have resorted to the auxiliary tank. “I think the machine got tail-heavy when down wind, with a failing engine, and to get resolutions, the pilot switched on the auxiliary petrol. While the mechanic was trying to throw out the stone, the machine may have stalled and gone into a spin.” H. R,. Barrett, a shareholder in Aerial Services T/td., said that Captain Harkness asked him about noon on Thursday if he would assist with the boat in towing the flying boat out from where it had been moored on the previous evening. Witness offered to be at the boatslieds at about 4.30 p.m., and Captain Harkness said:— “Provided you do not hear the machine over your office before then.” Witness considered this remark was purely jocular. The machine was towed into the harbour, and cast off with Captain Harkness and Goldsbfo

on board. Witness thought that the intention was merely to taxi on the water. The engine was started three or four times and the machine taxied short distances. Then the flying boat rail about half a mile across the surface, lifted slightly, and returned to the water three or four times, and finally it took off and flew across the harbour, until it was out of sight round North Head. Witness was not aware that the stone was carried in the flying boat. Witness was to wait to tow the flying boat back to its moorings.

A number of eye-witnesses gave evidence regarding the actual accident. One witness said that when the machine was towed toward the shore, he found a stone weighing about fifty pounds on the pilot’s knees. AT-ior Isitt said a search in the shallow water had been made but im •stone had been located. A fuatiler search would be made for it, and the wreckage of the 1 machine would he examined again.

The inquiry then adjourned until to-morrow.