An accident, involving an aircraft of United States registry, NC 41880 a Vought Sikorsky 44A flying boat, occurred 1n the Bay of Exploits, Botwood, Newfoundland, at about 7:05 p.m., local Botwood time, on October 3, 1942, and resulted in fatal injuries to five members of the crew and six passengers; serious injuries to three crew members and five passengers, and minor injuries to two crew and fifteen passengers. One member of the crew escaped injury. The aircraft,[1] which was being operated in scheduled air carrier service between New York, N. Y. and Foynes, Eire, with a scheduled stop at Botwood, was demolished. A magisterial hearing was conducted by H. A. L. Pattison, representing the Newfoundland government, at the Royal Canadian Air Force seaplane station at Botwood. The following personnel of the Safety Bureau of the Civil Aeronautics Board were present: William K. Andrews, Chief, Investigation Section, Allen P. Bourdon, Senior Air Safety Investigator, and W. E. Koneczny, Air Safety Specialist. A private hearing[2] in connection with this accident was held by representatives of the Safety Bureau, Civil Aeronautics Board, at Washington, D. C. on October 12, and at New York, N.Y. on October 15, 16, 17 and 26, and November 13.
The aircraft, NC 41880, operated by American Export Airlines, Inc.,[3] was a 39-passenger Vought Sikorsky, model 44A, flying boat. It was powered by four Pratt and Whitney S1C3G, 1200 h. p. engines, equipped with Hamilton Standard, constant speed, hydromatic, full-feathering propellers.
- ↑ At the time of the accident this aircraft was being operated under a temporary airworthiness certificate, issued by the Civil Aeronautics Administration, pending the formal issuance of a type certificate for subject model.
- ↑ Private hearings are held when, for reasons of national security, public hearings are inadvisable
- ↑ Hereinafter referred to as American Export
