West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Tuesday 5 June 1951, page 2


THE AMANA DISASTER Water Theory; New Evidence MELBOURNE. June 4: New evidence on the theory that water in a fuel tank caused the Amana air crash in Western Australia in June last year was given when the court of inquiry into the disaster reopened in Melbourne today. Twenty-nine persons lost their lives as a result of the disaster. The court of inquiry sat for 12 days in Perth last February. It was reopened at the request of the Federal Government to consider fresh evidence. Evidence was given by the chief engine specialist of the Civil Aviation Department (Mr. C. W. I. Gibbs), who recently conducted tests on the effect of water in the fuel tank of an aircraft engine. The tests had shown, Mr. Gibbs said, that if the plane's booster pumps were on when the plane took off, a vortex would form in the fuel tank of the engine which would keep water from entering the engine until a quantity of the petrol had been used. The effect of the water in the tank would then not become apparent until some time after take-off. The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.