Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-09
WILLIAMS PLANE
ESCAPES DISASTER
Speed Craft Almost Is Sunk
While Being Groomed
for Taxing Test.

ANNAPOLIS, Md, August 9.--Follow-
ing a narrow escape from what might
have been serious accident to his
Mercury racing plane just before dusk
yesterday, Lieut.. Afford J. Williams
crack Navy pilot, today was grooming
the little ship for its first taxing and
flying tests in event the present weather
conditions continue this afternoon.
When the wind died down shortly be-
fore sunset yesterday Lieut.. Williams
decided to attempt taxing test on
the Severn River in front of the Naval
the Santee Wharf by a crane aboard
the U. S. S. Sandpiper, Navy aircraft
tender, and was run up against barge
upon which electrical starting apparatus
had been installed.
Mechanics Shift Weight.
While two civilian mechanics were
busy making last-moment adjustments
on the planes oil line the nose of the
little ship was fitted against the cleo
trical starting apparatus aboard the
barge. The 1,1oo-horsepower motor is
too powerful to permit installation of a
starter aboard the plane.
Just as the adjustment was COM
pleted, however, both mechanics aboard
fhe plane moved to the right pontoon
The shift of weight sunk the pontoon
md the plane was torn loose from the
barge, threatening to turn over The
fight wing went three feet into the
water and the tail was sinking.
One of the mechanics lost his hold
and fell overheard and Lieut.. williams
directing operations from the Sand
piper, shouted for the second mechanic
to drop overheard. The $175,000 plane
appeared to hesitate for a moment, on
the verge of rolling completely over, and
then slowly righted itself.
Quadruple Starting Gear.
Hasty examination revealed that there
had been no damage except the loss OF
a small piece of metal cowling over the
gaso.lne tank filling tube. Attempts
were being made this morning to re-
cover the cowling from IS feet of water
while mechanics started work in the
Naval Academy shops on construction
of a substitute fitting in case the origi-
nal cannot be found.
The starting gear to be employed for
turning the motor over is composed OF
four automobile starting units coupled
together. A slot in the end Of the air
plane propeller shaft is engaged with a
spring coupling attached to the motor
There is some fear on the part OF
Navy people that when the powerful
motor starts the plane will be pulled
into the barge on which the starter is
mounted. 1t may become necessary to
tie the plane until the barge can be
moved away, they believe.
Water Is Calm Today.
Lieut.. Williams has been waiting two
days for favorable weather conditions
for the initial test of the plane. This
morning, although the sky was over
cast, the water was calm, and there was
little wind. Four mechanics were
turned loose on the ship and it prob
ably will be lowered overheard for the
taxing test early this afternoon.
Lieut.. Williams wishes to leave An
napolis as soon as possible for Cowes,
England, where the plane Is to be en-
tered in the Schneider trophy race Sep
TENDER Z. The trial flights here will
be held as soon as the taxing tests are
over and flying conditions are favor
able.