WW1 ROYAL FLYING CORPS MONTHLY SAFETY REPORT
December 1917, and extracted from a recent Daedalian Foundation Newsletter.
INTRODUCTION
Another good month. In all, a total of 35 accidents were reported, only six
of which were avoidable. These represented a marked improvement over the
month of November during which 84 accidents occurred, of which 23 were
avoidable. This improvement, no doubt, is the result of experienced pilots
with over 100 hours in the air forming the backbone of all the units.
RESUME OF ACCIDENTS
1. Avoidable accidents this last month:
a. The pilot of a Shorthorn, with over 7 hours of experience, seriously
damaged the undercarriage on landing. He had failed to land at as fast a
speed as possible as recommended in the Aviation Pocket Handbook.
b. A B.E.2 stalled and crashed during an artillery exercise. The pilot had
been struck on the head by the semaphore of his observer who was signaling
to the gunners.
c. Another pilot in a B.E.2 failed to get airborne. By an error of judgment,
he was attempting to fly at mid-day instead of at the recommended best lift
periods, which are just after dawn and just before sunset.
d. A Longhorn pilot lost control and crashed in a bog near Chipping-Sedbury.
An error of skill on the part of the pilot in not being able to control a
machine with a wide speed band of 10 MPH between top speed and stalling
speed.
e. While low flying in a Shorthorn the pilot crashed into the top deck of a
horse drawn bus near Stonehenge.
f. A B.E.2 pilot was seen to be attempting a banked turn at a constant
height before he crashed. A grave error by an experienced pilot.
2. There were 29 unavoidable accidents from which the following are
selected:
a. The top wing of a Camel fell off due to fatigue failure of the
flying wires. A successful emergency landing was carried out.
b. Sixteen B.E.2s and 9 Shorthorns had complete engine failures. A marked
improvement over November's fatigue.
c. Pigeons destroyed a Camel and 2 Longhorns after mid-air strikes.
COST OF ACCIDENTS
Accidents during the last three months of 1917 cost 317 pounds, 10
shillings, sixpence, money down the drain and sufficient to buy new gaiters
and spurs for each and every pilot and observer in the Service.
ACCIDENT BRIEFS
No.1 Brief:
No. 912 Squadron, 3 December 1917, Aircraft type B.E. 2C, No. XY 678, Total
solo -- 4.0, Pilot Lt. J. Smyth-Worthington, Solo in type -- 1.10.
The pilot of this flying machine attempted to maintain his altitude in a
turn at 2,500 feet. This resulted in the aeroplane entering an unprecedented
maneuver, entailing a considerable loss of height. Even with full power
applied and the control column fully back, the pilot was unable to regain
control. However, upon climbing from the cockpit onto the lower mainplane,
the pilot managed to correct the machines altitude, and by skillful
manipulation of the flying wires successfully side-slipped into a nearby
meadow.
Remarks: Although through inexperience, this pilot allowed his aeroplane to
enter an unusual attitude, his resourcefulness in eventually landing without
damage has earned him a unit citation. R.F.C. Lundsford-Magnus is
investigating the strange behaviour of this aircraft.
No. 2 Brief:
No. 847 Squadron, 19 December 1917, Aircraft type Spotter Balloon J17983,
Total solo 107.00. Pilot Capt. D. Lavendar, Solo in type 32.10.
Captain Lavendar of the Hussars, a balloon observer, unfortunately allowed
the spike of his full-dress helmet to impinge against the envelope of his
balloon. There was a violent explosion and the balloon carried out a series
of fantastic and uncontrollable maneuvers, whilst rapidly emptying itself of
gas. The pilot was thrown clear and escaped injury as he was lucky enough to
land on his helmet.
Remarks: This pilot was flying in full-dress uniform because he was the
Officer of the Day. In consequence it has been recommended that pilots will
not fly during periods of duty as Officer of the Day. Captain Lavendar has
subsequently requested an exchange posting to the Patroville Alps, a well
known mule unit of the Basques.
No. 3 Brief:
Summary of No. 43 Brief, dated October 1917.
Major W. deKitkag-Watney's Nieuport Scout was extensively damaged when
it failed to become airborne. The original Court of Inquiry found that the
primary cause of the accident was carelessness and poor airmanship on the
part of a very experienced pilot. The Commandant General, however, not being
wholly convinced that Major de Kitkag-Watney could be guilty of so culpable
a mistake ordered that the Court should be re-convened.
After extensive inquiries and lengthy discussions with the Meteorological
Officer and Astronomer Royal, the Court came to the conclusion that the
pilot unfortunately was authorized to fly his aircraft on a day when there
was absolutely no lift in the air and therefore could not be held
responsible for the accident. The Court wishes to take this opportunity to
extend its congratulations to Major de Kitkag-Watney on his reprieve and
also on his engagement to the Commandant General's daughter, which was
announced shortly before the accident.
FLYING SAFETY TIPS
Horizontal turns.
To take a turn the pilot should always remember to sit upright, otherwise he
will increase the banking of the aeroplane. He should NEVER lean over.
Crash precautions.
Every pilot should understand the serious consequences of trying to turn
with the engine off. It is much safer to crash into a house when going
forward than to sideslip or stall a machine with engine troubles.
Passengers should always use safety belts, as the pilot may start stunting
without warning. Never release the belt while in the air, or when nosed
down to land.
Engine noises.
Upon the detection of a knock, grind, rattle or squeak, the engine should be
at once stopped. Knocking or grinding accompanied by a
squeak indicates binding and a lack of lubricant.
WATCH THAT FIRST STEP
The First Marine Air Wing had this write up in their Safety publication Wing
Tips:
It was conceded by all that the pilot had accomplished a brilliant
piece of work in landing his disabled machine without damage under the
circumstances. It is not with intent to reflect less credit upon his
airmanship, but it must be noted that he is a well experienced aviator with
over 40 total hours in the air, embracing a wide variety of machines, and
this was his seventh forced landing due to complete failure of the engine.
It was doubly unfortunate that upon alighting from his machine he missed the
catwalk on the lower airfoil and plunged both legs through the fabric,
straddling a rib, from which he received a grievous personal injury. Some
thought should be devoted to a means of identifying wing-traversing catwalks
to assist aviators in disembarking from their various machines.
