GRAVESEND SMASH

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1930, Page 5

GRAVESEND SMASH

CAUSE OR THE COLLAPSE. Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) . , - LONDON, July 23. Experts continue to discuss the Gravesend aerial disaster. They suggest that the engine may have .slewed round, through some failure m its fixing, with tlie result that the propellor rotating at a terrific speed, struck the wing, and caused it to break off. i other expert is of tlie opinion that Henderson, on coming out of the. clouds in a fairly steep glide, was unable to check his glide, and the plane got. into, a vying flutter, the overstrain causing the wing to collapse. There, are no signs of an explosion. The German designer of the planej is flying to England to investigate tlie mystery. Lord Ednani, who is suffering from, ptomaine poisoning has left Le Touquct for England with Lady Dudley. .. . SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. • BRITISH AIR MINISTRY’S

• MEASURES. ..... ; .... RUGBY, July 22. The -air disaster which occurred y& terday, fit Moepham, Kent, when si persons.were killed,- was the eubje< of; a question in Parliament to-dn The XJnder-Secretnry for Air, Mr t Montague, was asked to state whu control; the Air ' Ministry exercise Qver passenger-carrying aircraft: whether- such machines' were subjed ed to periodical inspection; how ofte such inspections were made; and if h ivas satisfied that regulations vvei carried out in such a manner as to re duce accidents to, a minimum. Mr-Montague, in reply, .said that i was difficult within the compass of Parliamentary statement to sum marise the very elaborate regulation prescribed by the Air Ministry ii order to ensure the safety of passeng er-cariying aircraft. Briefly th' Air Ministry required such aircraft t( be inspected within 24 hours of 'eacl flight, the inspection being undet taken ‘by a competent ground engine erV who was required to provide' a cer tificate in writing. The .inspectioi covered not only the machine, but alsc the engine or engines. The person ii: charge of; the aircraft had to satisfy himself that the various requirements hafl been met. Whilst lie was not in the position to make any definite statement in regard to the machine that crashed until the investigation oi the Air Ministry into the accident was complete, he was in general satisfied tlia.t .the regulations .were most strictly applied and that everything possible Was done by those responsible for the nir service to reduce the risk of accident to the minimum. He took the opportunity; on behalf off the Air Minister, J/ord Thomson,, and himself of conveying to the relatives of those who had lost their lives an express sion of profound sympathy in their bereavement, and lie was sure the lionise would wish to be associated with it. . i ■INQUEST OPENS. JReoeived tbi* dav nt R 30. a.m.) . ■ • , : LONDON, July 93. Flower covered coffins of the victims lay in a hut behind a tiny village tea room i where the inquest was opened on the Meopliam air crash. There were affecting scenes as the bodies were identified. A gardener described how one body ifell in the orchard and rebounded nine yards to where he was standing. The inquest was adjourned till 13th August to enable the Air Ministry to complete investigations.