Flying-boat Accidents The accident to the Imperial Airways flying-boat, .`
Scipio,' in the Mediterranean, in which two lives were lost and the lives of all the passengers and crew were imperilled, inevitably recalls the recently issued report on the sinking of the ` City of Khartoum ' at Alexandria. The absence of a reasonably accurate and detailed report makes it difficult to comment on the latest accident ; but with Imperial Airways structural failure in the air or bad piloting can definitely be ruled out as possible causes of disaster. Modern aircraft can fly safely through bad weather ; but when landing under these conditions the Ilying-boat is naturally at a disadvantage compared with the aeroplane. And it seems possible that an altogether ,exceptional and unforeseen combination of squalls and very rough sea were too much for the flying-boat in this case. There can, unfortunately, be no guarantee that this will not occur again. The accident at Alexandria was due to a number of causes which, acting together, were sufficient to bring disaster, although any one alone would probably have had no fatal result. The most disquieting fact brought to light by the enquiry was that this type of flying-boat had flown across the Mediter- ranean with such a small reserve of fuel that a change in the petrol consumption of the engines was sufficient to empty. the petrol tanks before reaching harbour. It is difficult to imagine any adequate excuse for such a state of affairs ; but it is some small consolation to know that it will not be allowed to happen again if it is humanly possible to avoid it.
Previous page
