Evening star., 1932-09-18

to divine may happen. They fear the
mysterious and unknown more than
any danger of which they know.
For this reason the Department Of
Commerce Aeronautics Branch has
made every effort to determine the pre-
else cause of every airplane accident
with which it has had to deal. It wants
no doubt left as to the cause.
In the latest semi-annual report Of
accidents to planes operated in sched-
uled air transport services, covering the
first half Of 1892. the department has
clean slate in this respect. There was
not o single accident for which the
cause could not be determined. With
the cause known, it is possible for an
intelligent study to be made with view
to the elimination Of future accidents
from the same cause.
The report for the six months shows
that the American-owned air transport
services flew 24,668,4l4 miles in the
half year, with 81 accidents. or one ac-
cident for each 368,l85 miles Of flying.
Only six Of the accidents involved pas
senEer fatalities, or one fatal accident
to each 1000, 900 miles Of flying. Thir-
ty-six Of the accidents were to planes
which carried mail and express but no
passengers.
Causes of the accidents were divided
as follows: Personnel errors, 1896 per
cent; power plant failures. 22.39 per
cent; airplane failures, 1926 per cent;
miscellaneous, including weather, dark
ness and conditions Of airports and ter
rain, 47.3o per cent.
Big Engine Is Approved.
The late Thomas A. Edison advanced
the idea that the most practical avia-
ton engine would be one developing
one horsepower for every pound OF
self-contained helicopter If fitted
with an eff1cient propeller.
When 1t Is realized that the average
automobile engine weighs from 10 to
is pounds for each horsepower 1t de-
velops and that only few years ago
there were no power plants with more
favorable ratio of weight to power. 1t
becomes apparent that the realization
Of such q goal meant no small achieve
ment.
Edison's ideal has not yet been real
lied, but the latest motor approved by
the Department Of Commerce Aero
nautics Branch for aircraft use not
far from the ideal. being ofnciaily rated
at 122 pounds per horsepower.
The new motor, Wright Cyclone F,
is q nine e-cylinder radial air-cooled
model, which is given q rating OF TOO
horsepower at 1900 revolutions per
minute. The Navy Department has or
dered 90 of the new motors for In
stallation in fighting planes.
No Parachutes in Bolivia.
Parachutes are about as useful In
Bolivia as snowshoes in the tropics.
The Bolivian Air Force probably Is the
only military flying service In the world
today which does not include the para
chute as an item Of individual equip
ment for its flyers, according to a re-
port received here from Lieut.. A. Y.
Smith, Army Air Corps, who recently
completed South American leave-of-
absence tour.
parachutes, but the great altitude Of
Bolivia. La paz, the Bolivian capital,
and the Bolivian aviation fields, though
good. are at attitudes averaging around
IL 600 feet.
Due to the rarity Of the atmosphere
at these great attitudes, the rate of
descent Of parachute il 30 fast that
it Is dangerous to life and limb and
there are instances where Bolivian fly
ers have received broken legs and other
severe injuries making parachute
jumps.
Bolivian planes, because of the rare
atmosphere, are forced to land and take
OF at high speeds, and the airportS, OF
necessity, cover very large areas. Many
Of the planes are equipped with over
size wings to help overcome the high
altitude handicap.