PARACHUTE FAILS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 901, 19 February 1930, Page 9

PARACHUTE FAILS

VAIN EFFORT TO SAVE AIRMAN BRITISH SERGEANT'S FATE Times Cable. LONDON, Tuesday. The story of how a relief airplane was sent up to extricate the pilot of an ungovernable dual-control machine from his dilemma was described at the inquest concerning the death of Sergeant Cecil Kell. Deceased was killed after jumping from his machine near Kenley airdrome. Flight-Lieutenant Charles Trunch deposed that Squadron-Leader Baker and other officers on the ground saw Sergeant Fell flying in circles. It was seen that he was in serious difficulty because the dual controls had jammed. OFFICER’S SIGNALS Squadron-Leader Baker told witness to ascend, get alongside, and signal to Sergeant Fell to fly upside-down and so try to dislodge the obstacle. When witness flew near to deceased's machine he saw that the rear controls were jammed. Sergeant Fell tried to turn his airplane over, but the jammed controls prevented him. Then witness signalled to deceased to try looping the loop. Sergeant Fell replied indicating that he intended to jump with his parachute. Thereupon witness signalled to the sergeant to follow him and took him to an altitude of 6,000 ft. over the Epsom Downs so as to make a parachute descent safer. FATAL FORGETFULNESS Sergeant Fell suddenly dived to 2,000 ft., apparently in full control of his machine. Then once again he met trouble, and jumped. But he forgot to pull the release cord and consequently his parachute did not open. Experts expressed the opinion that the parachute in the rear seat of the machine was insecurely fastened and prevented the dual-control working properly.