West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Thursday 15 February 1951, page 3


AMANA INQUIRY QUESTION OF WATER IN AIRCRAFT FUEL Mr. H. A. Winneke, K.C., told the Air Court of Inquiry on the Amana crash yesterday that the Department of Civil Aviation was concerned about the question of water and petrol in aircraft and was conducting intensive investigations into the matter.

The inquiry is being held to determine the cause of the crash of the Amana, which was the Australian National Airways' flagship, near York on June 26 last, with the loss of 29 lives. The president (Mr. Justice Simpson) is being assisted by two assessors, Capt. J. W. Bennett and Mr. D. B. Hudson. Mr. Winneke is representing the Department of Civil Aviation. The main witness yesterday was Cuthbert Allan James Lum, of Sandgate-road, Brisbane, superintendent of air navigation in Queensland for the Department of Civil Aviation and, at the time of the crash, Acting-Chief Inspector of Air Accidents. He was in the witness box for nearly four hours and was subjected to lengthy cross-examination by counsel. "Pocket" In Tank Referring to the possibility of water having been in the fuel tanks of the Amana, witness related a personal experience in 1946 when he was flying an R.A.A.F. DC3 aircraft from Melbourne to Perth. He said that during the trip he landed at Ceduna for refuelling and after he had taken on the fuel he drained the weatherheads of the aircraft but detected no water.

He then started the engines and had a normal take-off. After the plane had been in the air for about 20 minutes, he said the starboard engine began to run roughly and later the port engine also showed some roughness. The roughness was intermittent and there was backfiring. He returned to Ceduna and again drained the weatherheads. Pure water ran out of them and he continued to drain until only petrol was running through. He had no further trouble during the flight and formed the opinion that water must have formed in a "pocket" in the tank. "Inexplicable" Mr. R. I. Ainslie (for Vacuum Oil Co.) said that up to 150 gallons of fuel remained in all tanks when the Amana arrived in Perth. He asked witness whether it was possible that the aircraft could have taken off from Adelaide and flown to Perth with water in its tanks. Witness: Based on my own experience I would say so. To Mr. Justice Simpson: After the incident in which he was involved witness reported it to his squadron in the R.A.A.F. He believed that the same "inexplicable position" that he had found was still existing in certain aircraft. Mr. Ainslie suggested that the pilot of the Amana might have pressed the feathering button in the control cabin for No. 4 engine in mistake for No. 1 and subsequently cut off the power in No. 1, leaving only Nos. 2 and 3 engines working on full power. No. 1 would have been windmilling (revolving without power) and No. 4 feathered and rotating on full power, he suggested. Witness said that he could express no opinion on how the plane would have reacted in such circumstances. Witness said that he had visited the scene of the Amana crash but he could find nothing to indicate that there was any failure of the airframe, control surfaces or any other portion of the aircraft before the crash. Apparently none of the fire damage had occurred before the impact. In reply to Mr. Winneke he said that it was his opinion that the aircraft failed to maintain height, probably due to the loss of engine power. Judge's Request At the opening of the hearing yesterday Mr. Justice Simpson said that in view of the evidence of one witness concerning corrosion of some parts of the engine, he would like to have evidence as to the history of corrosion in R2000 engines (used in DC4 aircraft) in the past. He asked whether A.N.A. or the Department of Civil Aviation had discovered any similar evidence in other engines or whether it was local to those particular engines. He also asked for some evidence on what was done to the individual engines of the Amana between the time of overhaul and the time of the accident, particularly in relation to the changing of spark plugs. Mr. Justice Simpson said that he wanted information on whether A.N.A. had made any investigation of reports of rough running in R2000 engines. After an adjournment of about half an hour Mr. Justice Simpson said that he had been informed that the evidence which he required would be brought forward. Mr. L. D. Seaton, K.C., with him Mr. B. Simpson. is assisting the court: Mr. Winneke. K.C., with him Mr. R. J. Leckie, for the Department of Civil Aviation: Mr. G. A. Pape for A.N.A.: Mr. F. T. P. Burt for the Australian Air Pilots' Association; Mr. Ainslie for Vacuum Ol Co. and certain of its employees; Mr. P. W. Miller for theProfessional Professional Officers Assocn; and Mr. L. P.. McGowan for the Professional Radio Employees' Association .