MISHAP TO ENGINE OF CLIPPER

Southland Times, Issue 24244, 30 September 1940, Page 4

MISHAP TO ENGINE OF CLIPPER

RETURN TO AUCKLAND FOR REPAIRS

(United Press Association)

AUCKLAND, September 28.

The Honolulu clipper of Pan American Airways took off at 7.49 this morning from the company’s base at Mechanic’s Bay on its return flight to America. Twenty minutes later, when in the vicinity of Whangarei Heads, she turned back for Auckland, as a leak in the No. 3 engine was discovered. When she left this morning the clipper was carrying 12 passengers and about 3001 b of New Zealand mail and 1451 b of New Zealand freight, also a quantity of through mail and freight from Australia.

The departure date of the clipper has not been definitely determined. Mechanics were working on the machine at the week-end and it was thought that a new engine would be fitted and the machine test-flown in time for her to leave on Wednesday or Thursday morning. The clipper was in the vicinity of the Whangarei Heads when a slight roughness in one engine became apparent. Tests were made in flight and one of the unique safety features made possible by the great size of the machine was put into effect when the flight engineers made an examination while the clipper was still in the air. To avoid any further damage being caused the engine was shut off and the blades of the full-feathering airscrew turned so that the propeller would not continue to revolve. Engineers then walked along the passageway provided inside the wing and made routine 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.