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unduly strained； spars snapping； or bolts becoming loose。
Mr。 Grahame…White admirably expresses this when he says： 〃It is a
melancholy reflection； when one is going through the lists of aeroplane
fatalities； to think how many might have been avoided。 Really the crux of
the situation in this connection； as it appears to me； is this： the first men
who flew； having had all the drudgery and danger of pioneer work； were
extremely careful in all they did； and this fact accounts for the
comparatively large proportion of these very first airmen who have
survived。
〃But the men who came next in the path of progress； having a machine
ready…made； so to speak； and having nothing to do but to get into it and fly；
did not； in many cases； exercise this saving grace of caution。 And thatat
least in my viewis why a good many of what one may call the second
flight of pilots came to grief。〃
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CHAPTER XLVI
Accidents and their Cause （Cont。）
One of the main causes of aeroplane accidents has been the breakage
of some part of the machine while in the air； due to defective work in its
construction。 There is no doubt that air…craft are far more trustworthy now
than they were two or three years ago。 Builders have learned from the
mistakes of their predecessors as well as profited by their own。 After every
serious accident there is an official enquiry as to the probable cause of the
accident； and information of inestimable value has been obtained from
such enquiries。
The Royal Aero Club of Great Britain has a special 〃Accidents
Investigation Committee〃 whose duty it is to issue a full report on every
fatal accident which occurs to an aeroplane in this country。 As a rule；
representatives of the committee visit the scene of the accident as soon as
possible after its occurrence。 Eye…witnesses are called before them to give
evidence of the disaster； the remains of the craft are carefully inspected in
order to discover any flaw in its construction； evidence is taken as to the
nature and velocity of the wind on the day of the accident； the approximate
height at which the aviator was flying； and； in fact； everything of value
that might bear on the cause of the accident。
As a good example of an official report we may quote that issued by
the Accidents Investigation Committee of the Royal Aero Club on the fatal
accident which occurred to Colonel Cody and his passenger on 7th August；
1913。
〃The representatives of the Accidents Committee visited the scene of
the accident within a few hours of its occurrence； and made a careful
examination of the wrecked air…craft。 Evidence was also taken from the
eye…witnesses of the accident。
〃From the consideration of the evidence the Committee regards the
following facts as clearly established：
〃1。 The air…craft was built at Farnborough； by Mr。 S。 F。 Cody； in July；
1913。
〃2。 It was a new type； designed for the Daily Mail Hydroplane Race
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round Great Britain； but at the time of the accident had a land chassis
instead of floats。
〃3。 The wind at the time of the accident was about 10 miles per hour。
〃4。 At about 200 feet from the ground the air…craft buckled up and fell
to the ground。 A large piece of the lower left wing； composing the whole
of the front spar between the fuselage and the first upright； was picked up
at least 100 yards from the spot where the air…craft struck the ground。
〃5。 The fall of the air…craft was broken considerably by the trees； to
such an extent that the portion of the fuselage surrounding the seats was
practically undamaged。
〃6。 Neither the pilot nor passenger was strapped in。
〃0pinion。 The Committee is of opinion that the failure of the air…craft
was due to inherent structural weakness。
〃Since that portion of the air…craft in which the pilot and passenger
were seated was undamaged； it is conceivable their lives might have been
saved had they been strapped in。〃
This occasion was not the only time when the Accidents Investigation
Committee recommended the advisability of the airman being strapped to
his seat。 But many airmen absolutely refuse to wear a belt； just as many
cyclists cannot bear to have their feet made fast to the pedals of their
cycles by using toe…clips。
Mention of toe…clips brings us to other accidents which sometimes
befall airmen。 As we have seen in a previous chapter； Mr。 Hawker's
accident in Ireland was due to his foot slipping over the rudder bar of his
machine。 It is thought that the disaster to Mr。 Pickles' machine on 〃Aerial
Derby〃 day in 1913 was due to the same cause； and on one occasion Mr。
Brock was in great danger through his foot slipping on the rudder bar
while he was practising some evolutions at the London Aerodome。
Machines are generally flying at a very fast rate； and if the pilot loses
control of the machine when it is near the ground the chances are that the
aeroplane crashes to earth before he can right it。 Both Mr。 Hawker and Mr。
Pickles were flying low at the time of their accidents； and so their
machines were smashed； fortunately Mr。 Brock was comparatively high up
in the air； and though his machine rocked about and banked in an ominous
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manner； yet he was able to gain control just in the nick of time。
To prevent accidents of this kind the rudder bars could be fitted with
pedals to which the pilot's feet could be secured by toe…clips； as on bicycle
pedals。 Indeed； some makers of air…craft have already provided pedals
with toe…clips for the rudder bar。 Probably some safety device such as this
will soon be made compulsory on all machines。
We have already remarked that certain pilots do not pay sufficient heed
to the inspection of their machines before making a flight。 The difference
between pilots in this respect is interesting to observe。 On the great day at