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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0139.PDF
FEBRUARY 7, 1914. ACCIDENTS INVESTIGATION r/DcHf] REPORT ON THE FATAL ACCIDENT TO MR. GEORGE LEE TEMPLE WHEN FLYING AT THE LONDON AERODROME, HKNDON, LONDON, N.W., ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 25TH, 1914, AT ABOUT 4 P.M. Brief Description of the Accident.—Mr. George Lee Temple was flying a Bleriot monoplane, fitted with a 50 h.p. Gnome motor, at the London Aeiodrome, Hendon, London, N.W., on Sunday, January 25th, 1914, at about 4 p.m. He had been in the air ten minutes, and had reached a height of approximately 500 ft. He then descended to about 150 ft., after which he flew horizon tally for some 200 yds. During the descent he was heard to switch his engine on and off. At the end of the horizontal flight, the engine was heard to cease firing, and the aircraft thereupon dived as if the pilot intended to make one of his usual steep descents, prior to landing. Instead of flattening out, however, the aircraft progressively turned over beyond the vertical and alighted on its back. The pilot was found strapped in the seat and clear of the ground. When released from the machine, the pilot was dead, and his neck was found to be broken. Mr. George Lee Temple was granted his Aviator's Certificate No. 424, on February 18th, 1913, by the Royal Aero Club. Report.—The Committee sat on Wednesday, January 28ih, 1914, COMMITTEE OF REPORT No. 19. THE ROYAL AERO CLUB. and received the report of the Club's representative, who was present at the time of the accident. Evidence was also given by eye witnesses of the accident, and the medical officer who made the post-mortem examination. From the consideration of the evidence, the Committee regards the following facts as clearly established :— (1) The aircraft was built early in 1912. (2) All the controls were in working order. (3) The then state of health of the pilot as disclosed by the post mortem examination was such that he incurred grave risk by flying at all. The evidence of the doctor who examined the pilot and subsequently carried out the post-mortem was to the above effect. The doctor also stated that the pilot's neck was broken in such a manner as to indicate that the neck muscles were relaxed at the moment of breaking, pointing to the probability that the pilot was unconscious at that time. Opinion.—The committee is of opinion that the condition of the pilot's health, as disclosed by the medical evidence, coupled with the fact of the gradual turning over of the aircraft in its descent to the ground, point to the pilot having lost consciousness just before or at the commencement of the dive, and that this loss of consciousness and control was the cause of the accident. Mr. Hamel Flies Before the King. HAVING received a command to give an exhibition before Their Majesties the King and Queen, Mr. Hamel flew from Hendon to Windsor on Thursday of last week, arriving at the Castle at about 12.45 P-m- After flying for about ten minutes over and round the Castle, Hamel alighted on the East Terrace. He was presented to Their Majesties, and the King and Queen inspected the machine. The Royal party included Princess Mary, Prince Henry and Prince John. The news of Mr. Hamel's intended visit leaked out, and a large crowd gathered within the Castle grounds and at other vantage points, Mr. Hamel had the honour of an invitation to luncheon at the Castle. At 2.30 p.m. he was again in the air giving a demon stration of high flying before Their Majesties, and hall an hour later he disappeared in the direction of Hendon ; and upon this occasion Mr. Hamel did not loop the loop, but this part of the programme was carried out during another visit to Windsor on Monday. A few minutes after twelve Mr. Hamel arrived on his 80 h.p. Morane- Saulnier machine and 7,<o/ plane'd down to the East Lawn, where Their Majesties the King and Queen, with the Princess Royal, Princess Maud and Prince John were waiting. At 12.30 p.m. Mr. Hamel ascended again, and in the course of a 17-min. flight made fourteen loops. After luncheon at the Castle Mr. Hamel gave another display of looping before returning by the air-way to Hendon. LOOPING THE LOOP BY COMMAND OF THE KING.—Mr. Gustav Hamel upside down over Windsor Castle before the King on Monday. Our photograph shows the spectators watching the evolutions from the Long Walk. 139
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