Narrative:The W.10 plane named "City of Ottawa" crash-landed into the sea of the English Channel following loss of engine power.
Investigators found the No. 4 connecting rod assembly of the starboard engine completely broken as a result of a fracture of the big-end bearing studs. It appeared that the bearing studs on the port side of the bearing fractured in fatigue.
The airplane operated on a flight from London-Croydon to Zürich, Switzerland, via Paris, France and Basel, Switzerland.
Probable Cause:
The primary cause of the accident was the fracture under fatigue of studs in the front or No. 4 big end bearing of the starboard engine.
Classification:
Ditching
Sources:
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Flight 1 August 1929
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from London-Croydon Airport to Paris-Le Bourget Airport as the crow flies is 319 km (199 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.