A37575
30th Apr 2011, 14:55
On 26 January 1962 a French Navy Lancaster WU 21 pranged on landing at Wallis Island in the South Pacific. Apparently it suffered severe fluid loss from the hydraulic system which meant only partial flap went down and no brake pressure. The runway was wet and the aircraft over-ran the airstrip until the right wheel hit a ditch beyond the end of the runway causing the right landing gear to collapse. The aircraft was considered a write off and it was left to rot at Wallis for 20 years. Eventually (and it is a long and fascinating story) the French transported the remains by ship to France where it has been partially restored by Ailes Anciennes le Bourget.
I read a brief description of the cause of the accident in a pamphlet published by this Museum and I wondered about the apparent brake failure caused by total loss of hydraulic fluid.
I flew Lincolns which had pneumatic brakes and so I thought Lancasters too must have had pneumatic brakes. Can someone tell me if the Lancasters destined for the French in 1951 and subsequently used by them for maritime recce in the South Pacific (New Caledonia) in 1957, were modified to have hydraulic brakes? In fact did all Lancs during the war have hydraulic brakes and not pneumatic brakes?
The actual extract from the pamphlet read as follows: "Nearing Futuna the (captain) notices a huge hydraulic leak: It has become impossible to pull the flaps down to 20 degrees, they are stuck at 7 degrees. Anyway the mail was dropped at 1610 (26 Jan 1963) while the aircraft was 1200 ft high and 140 knots.
Then she went back up to 3000 ft towards Wallis the flaps still stuck. Nearing Wallis now in very bad weather, two parachutes were ready to slow her down if necessary and the mechanic aded two more cans of hydraulic fluid. At 1650 landing strip in sight, soft landing with no brakes, props at low pitch, trap doors open (bomb bay doors?). 1000 metres later at a lower speed the right wheel dives into a hole full of water, the landing gear collapses, engine No 4 the tip of the wing, and the drift violently hit the ground. Only a few bumps for the crew but the aircraft is out of order. Another Lancaster WU 15 will fetch the crew and sick child and WU21 will be pushed to the end of the runway...she will stay there for 20 years."
The flaps on the Lincoln flap gauge were marked in quarters, half, three quarter and full flap. I thought the Lancaster flaps would have been the same -in other words not in degrees?
Would be most grateful for any comments?
I read a brief description of the cause of the accident in a pamphlet published by this Museum and I wondered about the apparent brake failure caused by total loss of hydraulic fluid.
I flew Lincolns which had pneumatic brakes and so I thought Lancasters too must have had pneumatic brakes. Can someone tell me if the Lancasters destined for the French in 1951 and subsequently used by them for maritime recce in the South Pacific (New Caledonia) in 1957, were modified to have hydraulic brakes? In fact did all Lancs during the war have hydraulic brakes and not pneumatic brakes?
The actual extract from the pamphlet read as follows: "Nearing Futuna the (captain) notices a huge hydraulic leak: It has become impossible to pull the flaps down to 20 degrees, they are stuck at 7 degrees. Anyway the mail was dropped at 1610 (26 Jan 1963) while the aircraft was 1200 ft high and 140 knots.
Then she went back up to 3000 ft towards Wallis the flaps still stuck. Nearing Wallis now in very bad weather, two parachutes were ready to slow her down if necessary and the mechanic aded two more cans of hydraulic fluid. At 1650 landing strip in sight, soft landing with no brakes, props at low pitch, trap doors open (bomb bay doors?). 1000 metres later at a lower speed the right wheel dives into a hole full of water, the landing gear collapses, engine No 4 the tip of the wing, and the drift violently hit the ground. Only a few bumps for the crew but the aircraft is out of order. Another Lancaster WU 15 will fetch the crew and sick child and WU21 will be pushed to the end of the runway...she will stay there for 20 years."
The flaps on the Lincoln flap gauge were marked in quarters, half, three quarter and full flap. I thought the Lancaster flaps would have been the same -in other words not in degrees?
Would be most grateful for any comments?