BOAC Flight 712: Difference between revisions
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===Fire-fighting=== |
===Fire-fighting=== |
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The first two [[fire engine]]s to arrive were unable to do much to stop the fire, as the drivers misjudged their distance, and also they were unable to make foam whilst on the move. To make foam, the main transfer gearboxes of the fire engines had to be operated, which meant that the vehicles were unable to move. Problems with couplings on the fire hoses exacerbated the situation - the fire hydrants had been regularly painted, and a build up of paint on the coupling threads prevented the hoses from being attached to the hydrants. The driver of a back-up foam tender drove in closer to the burning aircraft and discharged his foam effectively, but the fire had already gained hold by the time this happened.<ref name=Letter>{{ cite journal | last = Duncan| first = Stephen| coauthors = | year = 2009| month = January| title = Heathrow 707 fire| journal=Aeroplane| volume = 37| issue = 1| pages = p98–99| id = ISSN 0143-7240| url = | accessdate = 2008-12-02 | quote = | unused_data = DUPLICATE DATA: issue = 429 }}</ref> |
The first two [[fire engine]]s to arrive were unable to do much to stop the fire, as the drivers misjudged their distance, and also they were unable to make foam whilst on the move. To make foam, the main transfer gearboxes of the fire engines had to be operated, which meant that the vehicles were unable to move. Problems with couplings on the fire hoses exacerbated the situation - the fire hydrants had been regularly painted, and a build up of paint on the coupling threads prevented the hoses from being attached to the hydrants. The driver of a back-up foam tender drove in closer to the burning aircraft and discharged his foam effectively, but the fire had already gained hold by the time this happened.<ref name=Letter>{{ cite journal | last = Duncan| first = Stephen| coauthors = | year = 2009| month = January| title = Heathrow 707 fire| journal=Aeroplane| volume = 37| issue = 1| pages = p98–99| id = ISSN 0143-7240| url = | accessdate = 2008-12-02 | quote = | unused_data = DUPLICATE DATA: issue = 429 }}</ref> |
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⚫ | The aircraft was carrying 116 passengers and eleven crew, five people were killed in the accident including [[Barbara Jane Harrison]] a stewardess and four passengers.<ref name=Mag/><ref name=OttawayC5>{{cite book | first =Susan | last =Ottaway | coauthors = | year =2008 | title =Fire over Heathrow, The Tragedy of Flight 712 | chapter =Chapter 5, ''The Tragedy of Flight 712'' | editor = | others = | edition = | pages =p62–77 | publisher=Pen and Sword Books | location =Barnsley |isbn=978 184415 7396 | url = }}</ref> |
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One the survivors was the pop singer [[Mark Wynter]] who was travelling to Australia for his marriage to Janeece Corlass.<ref name=OttawayC3>{{cite book | first =Susan | last =Ottaway | coauthors = | year =2008 | title =Fire over Heathrow, The Tragedy of Flight 712 | chapter =Chapter 3, ''The Final Briefing'' | editor = | others = | edition = | pages =p19–39 | publisher=Pen and Sword Books | location =Barnsley |isbn=978 184415 7396 | url = }}</ref> |
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⚫ | The aircraft involved in the accident was a Boeing 707-465 registered G-ARWE (manufacturer's serial number 18373, Boeing line number 302).<ref name=ASN/> First flown on 27 June 1962 the aircraft was originally to have been operated by [[British Eagle|Cunard Eagle Airways]], but before it entered service it was sold to BOAC-Cunard and was delivered on 7 July 1962.<!-- see British Eagle article for details--> On 21 November 1967, the aircraft suffered an engine failure on take off from [[Honolulu International Airport]]. The take off was aborted, there were no injuries to any of the passengers or crew.<ref name=NTSB>{{cite web|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=15729&key=0 |title=NTSB Identification: OAK68A0046|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board|accessdate=2008-05-15}}</ref> At the time of the Heathrow accident, the aircraft had flown for a total of 20,870 hours.<ref name=ASN/> The aircraft was insured for £2,200,000 with [[Lloyd's of London]].<ref name=Times100468>{{Cite newspaper The Times |articlename=Jet crash: £2m insurance bill |day_of_week=Wednesday |date=10 April 1968 |page_number=211 |issue=57223 |column=F}}</ref> |
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==Aftermath== |
==Aftermath== |
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===Casualties=== |
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⚫ | The five people killed in the accident |
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===Arrest of passenger=== |
===Arrest of passenger=== |
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One of the passengers had been due to appear at [[Darlington]] [[Magistrates' Court (England and Wales)|Magistrates' Court]] on a charge of [[indecent assault]] on the day of the accident. His name was recognised by police when it appeared on a list of survivors and he was arrested 15 minutes before he could board a replacement flight to Australia. The man appeared at Darlington Magistrates' Court on 10 April where he pled guilty to the charge and was remanded in custody for 19 days whilst a medical report was prepared.<ref name=Times110468>{{Cite newspaper The Times |articlename=Air survivor in court |day_of_week=Thursday |date=11 April 1968 |page_number=2 |issue=57224 |column=G}}</ref> |
One of the passengers had been due to appear at [[Darlington]] [[Magistrates' Court (England and Wales)|Magistrates' Court]] on a charge of [[indecent assault]] on the day of the accident. His name was recognised by police when it appeared on a list of survivors and he was arrested 15 minutes before he could board a replacement flight to Australia. The man appeared at Darlington Magistrates' Court on 10 April where he pled guilty to the charge and was remanded in custody for 19 days whilst a medical report was prepared.<ref name=Times110468>{{Cite newspaper The Times |articlename=Air survivor in court |day_of_week=Thursday |date=11 April 1968 |page_number=2 |issue=57224 |column=G}}</ref> |
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As a result of the investigation, and lessons learned from the chain of events, BOAC combined the "Engine Fire Drill" and "Engine Severe Failure Drill" checklists into one list, called the "Engine Fire or Severe Failure Drill". Modifications were also made to the checklist, including adding confirmation that the fire handles had been pulled to the checklist.<ref name=Job>{{cite book | first = MacArthur| last = Job| year = 1994| title = Air Disaster | volume = 1 |page = p60–66| publisher=Aerospace Publications| location = [[Weston Creek]], ACT| isbn = 1 875671 11 0}}</ref> |
As a result of the investigation, and lessons learned from the chain of events, BOAC combined the "Engine Fire Drill" and "Engine Severe Failure Drill" checklists into one list, called the "Engine Fire or Severe Failure Drill". Modifications were also made to the checklist, including adding confirmation that the fire handles had been pulled to the checklist.<ref name=Job>{{cite book | first = MacArthur| last = Job| year = 1994| title = Air Disaster | volume = 1 |page = p60–66| publisher=Aerospace Publications| location = [[Weston Creek]], ACT| isbn = 1 875671 11 0}}</ref> |
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==People involved in the accident== |
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===Crew=== |
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[[File:Barbara Jane Harrison 785.jpg|thumb|Barbara Jane Harrison's grave]] |
[[File:Barbara Jane Harrison 785.jpg|thumb|Barbara Jane Harrison's grave]] |
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*[[Pilot in command|Captain]] Charles Taylor |
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*[[Flight Engineer]] Thomas Hicks |
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*[[First Officer (civil aviation)|First Officer]] Francis Kirkland |
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*[[Acting (rank)|Acting]] First Officer John Hutchinson |
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*Check Captain Geoffrey Moss |
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*[[Flight attendant|Chief Steward]] Neville Davis-Gordon |
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*Stewardess [[Barbara Jane Harrison]] |
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*Steward Andrew McCarthy |
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*Stewardess Jennifer Suares |
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*Steward Bryan Taylor |
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*Stewardess Rosalind Unwin |
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===Air traffic control=== |
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*John Davis |
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*Frank Tyler <!--took photo of aircraft on runway, used on cover of the 2008 book. Need to access book as that may give more details of his role--> |
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<!--Only passengers likely to be notable Wiki-wise to be included--> |
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*[[Katriel Katz]], Israeli Ambassador to the [[Soviet Union]]. Katz had been expelled from the Soviet Union by [[Andrei Gromyko]] when it became clear that the [[Six-Day War]] would happen. Gromyko is said to have told Katz not to let his emotions get the better of him, advice he was to ignore in the emergency that was to befall him.<ref name=OttawayC3/> During the evacuation from the aircraft, Katz was the only passenger to escape through the forward port door, despite the efforts of Hutchinson and Unwin to stop him using that door. The two flight crew were almost carried out through the door by Katz, who was a large man. Katz was seriously injured in jumping from the doorway.<ref name=OttawayC5/> He was taken to [[Hillingdon Hospital]] where it was initially feared that he would become the sixth victim of Flight 712. Katz recovered after a few days. He died in 1988 aged 80.<ref name=OttawayC6/> |
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*[[Mark Wynter]], pop singer was travelling to Australia for his marriage to Janeece Corlass.<ref name=OttawayC3>{{cite book | first =Susan | last =Ottaway | coauthors = | year =2008 | title =Fire over Heathrow, The Tragedy of Flight 712 | chapter =Chapter 3, ''The Final Briefing'' | editor = | others = | edition = | pages =p19–39 | publisher=Pen and Sword Books | location =Barnsley |isbn=978 184415 7396 | url = }}</ref> On evacuating the aircraft, Wynter escorted a dazed young girl away from the burning aircraft. They both ran some {{convert|300|yd|m}} to the offices of [[British Eagle]] where they were attended to.<ref name=OttawayC4/> Wynter had suffered a sprained left ankle and a broken bone in his right foot during the evacuation.<ref name=OttawayC6>{{cite book | first =Susan | last =Ottaway | coauthors = | year =2008 | title =Fire over Heathrow, The Tragedy of Flight 712 | chapter =Chapter 6, ''The Evening News'' | editor = | others = | edition = | pages =p78–91 | publisher=Pen and Sword Books | location =Barnsley |isbn=978 184415 7396 | url = }}</ref> He did not postpone the wedding, which took place on 19 April as scheduled in Melbourne. Wynter flew out to Australia a few days before the wedding. BOAC upgraded his ticket to first class.<ref name=OttawayC7>{{cite book | first =Susan | last =Ottaway | coauthors = | year =2008 | title =Fire over Heathrow, The Tragedy of Flight 712 | chapter =Chapter 7, ''Headlines'' | editor = | others = | edition = | pages =p92–104 | publisher=Pen and Sword Books | location =Barnsley |isbn=978 184415 7396 | url = }}</ref> |
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⚫ | The aircraft involved in the accident was a Boeing 707-465 registered G-ARWE (manufacturer's serial number 18373, Boeing line number 302).<ref name=ASN/> First flown on 27 June 1962 the aircraft was originally to have been operated by [[British Eagle|Cunard Eagle Airways]], but before it entered service it was sold to BOAC-Cunard and was delivered on 7 July 1962.<!-- see British Eagle article for details--> On 21 November 1967, the aircraft suffered an engine failure on take off from [[Honolulu International Airport]]. The take off was aborted, there were no injuries to any of the passengers or crew.<ref name=NTSB>{{cite web|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=15729&key=0 |title=NTSB Identification: OAK68A0046|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board|accessdate=2008-05-15}}</ref> At the time of the Heathrow accident, the aircraft had flown for a total of 20,870 hours.<ref name=ASN/> The aircraft was insured for £2,200,000 with [[Lloyd's of London]].<ref name=Times100468>{{Cite newspaper The Times |articlename=Jet crash: £2m insurance bill |day_of_week=Wednesday |date=10 April 1968 |page_number=211 |issue=57223 |column=F}}</ref> |
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To replace G-ARWE, BOAC negotiated with [[Saturn Airways]] to receive one of the three Boeing 707s that they had ordered. The aircraft was delivered to BOAC in June 1968 and entered service in late July. This particular aircraft was powered by [[Pratt & Whitney]] engines.<ref name=OttawayC8/> |
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===Salvage=== |
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The nose section of G-ARWE was salvaged, and used on a Boeing 707-331B, [[Trans World Airlines|TWA's]] N28714,<ref name=Mag/> c/n 18408.<ref name=FAA>{{cite web|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=28714|title=FAA Registry N-Number Inquiry Results|publisher=[[Federal Aviation Administration]]|accessdate=2008-05-15}}</ref> The recipient aircraft was previously registered N779TW, which had been [[TWA Flight 840 (1969)|hijacked on a flight]] from [[Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport|Rome]] to [[Ellinikon International Airport|Athens]]. Its cockpit had been destroyed by a bomb at [[Damascus]], Syria, on 29 August 1968. It was found that the rest of the airframe was undamaged. The nose section of G-ARWE remained intact after the fire, and thus was fitted to N776TW. That aircraft was test flown on 4 December 1969 and flew with TWA for another ten years as N28714. In March 1980 it was withdrawn from service and stored at [[Kansas City International Airport]]. In 1983 it was sold to Boeing and flown to [[Davis–Monthan Air Force Base]] for use as spares for the [[United States Air Force]] [[KC-135 Stratotanker]] fleet. N28714's registration was cancelled in March 1984.<ref name=OttawayA4>{{cite book | first =Susan | last =Ottaway | coauthors = | year =2008 | title =Fire over Heathrow, The Tragedy of Flight 712 | chapter =Appendix 4, ''The Fate of Whiskey Echo'' | editor = | others = | edition = | pages =p168–69 | publisher=Pen and Sword Books | location =Barnsley |isbn=978 184415 7396 | url = }}</ref> |
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[[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] awarded Barbara Jane Harrison a posthumous [[George Cross]] (GC), the only GC ever presented to a woman in peacetime.<ref name=Gazette/> Her medal was accepted on her behalf by her father, Alan.<ref name=Mag/> Harrison is the youngest ever female recipient of the George Cross.<ref name=Age>{{cite web|url=http://www.gc-database.co.uk/decoration.htm |title=The Decoration, Facts and Statistics and Information about the Exchanges: The George Cross |publisher=George Cross Database|accessdate=2010-03-20}}</ref> Neville Davis-Gordon was awarded the [[British Empire Medal]] for Gallantry (BEM).<ref name=Gazette>{{LondonGazette|issue=44913|supp=yes|startpage=8211|endpage=8213|date=7 August 1969|accessdate=2008-05-16}} The citation for Harrison's GC is on p.1, Davis-Gordon's BEM is on p.3</ref> John Davis was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE).<ref name=Mag/> |
[[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] awarded Barbara Jane Harrison a posthumous [[George Cross]] (GC), the only GC ever presented to a woman in peacetime.<ref name=Gazette/> Her medal was accepted on her behalf by her father, Alan.<ref name=Mag/> Harrison is the youngest ever female recipient of the George Cross.<ref name=Age>{{cite web|url=http://www.gc-database.co.uk/decoration.htm |title=The Decoration, Facts and Statistics and Information about the Exchanges: The George Cross |publisher=George Cross Database|accessdate=2010-03-20}}</ref> Neville Davis-Gordon was awarded the [[British Empire Medal]] for Gallantry (BEM).<ref name=Gazette>{{LondonGazette|issue=44913|supp=yes|startpage=8211|endpage=8213|date=7 August 1969|accessdate=2008-05-16}} The citation for Harrison's GC is on p.1, Davis-Gordon's BEM is on p.3</ref> John Davis was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE).<ref name=Mag/> |
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==Book== |
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In April 2008, a book was published on the accident. The book has an introduction by the [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Duke of Edinburgh]], who witnessed the flight from [[Windsor Castle]].<ref name=CVTel>{{cite web|url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/tm_headline=how-i-kept-my-cool-as-jet-exploded-in-fireball-horror&method=full&objectid=20740729&siteid=92746-name_page.html|title=How I kept my cool as jet exploded in fireball horror|publisher=Coventry Telegraph|first=Amy |last=Harris |date=9 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-05-15}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Other accidents in which aircrew were decorated include: |
Other accidents in which aircrew were decorated include: |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
Revision as of 12:23, 8 April 2012
Accident | |
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Date | 8 April 1968 |
Summary | Engine fire |
Site | Hounslow, United Kingdom |
Aircraft | |
Aircraft type | Boeing 707-465 |
Aircraft name | "Whisky Echo" |
Operator | British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) |
Registration | G-ARWE (c/n 18373) |
Flight origin | London Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom |
1st stopover | Zürich Airport, Zürich, Switzerland |
2nd stopover | Singapore International Airport, Singapore |
Destination | Sydney Airport, Sydney, Australia |
Passengers | 116 |
Crew | 11 |
Fatalities | 5 |
Injuries | 38 |
Survivors | 122 |
BOAC Flight 712 (callsign Speedbird 712) was a British Overseas Airways Corporation service operated by a Boeing 707-465 from London Heathrow Airport bound for Sydney, Australia via Zurich and Singapore. On Monday 8 April 1968, it suffered an engine failure on takeoff that quickly led to a major fire. The engine fell off the aircraft in flight. Confusion over checklists and distractions from the presence of a check captain led to a major fire that killed five of the 127 on board after the aircraft had made a safe emergency landing.
The actions taken by those involved in the accident resulted in the award of a George Cross, a British Empire Medal and an MBE. As a direct result of the accident, BOAC changed the checklists for engine severe failures and engine fires, combining them both into one checklist, the "engine fire or severe failure" checklist.
Flight
Flight 712 took off from Heathrow at 15:27 GMT (16:27 BST), 12 minutes later than scheduled.[1] Flight 712 had 127 people aboard, including a crew augmented by the addition of an acting flight officer and a check captain for routine performance review of the pilot in command, Captain Taylor. As well as the passengers, the aircraft was carrying baggage, mail and a radioactive isotope from the Isotope Production Unit at Harwell destined for the University Hospital in Jerusalem.[2]
Seconds after take off from Heathrow's then 9,000 feet (2,700 m) long runway 28L (now 27L),[3] there was an unexpected bang and the aircraft started vibrating. The throttle controlling number two engine was shutting down. While Captain Taylor ordered an engine failure drill, Flight Engineer Thomas Hicks carried out the engine failure drill, but both he and Check Captain Geoffrey Moss reached for the switch to cancel the undercarriage warning horn. At the same time, First Officer Francis Kirkland inadvertently cancelled the fire bell. Hicks reached for, but didn't pull, the engine fire shut-off handle. Moss, observing the fire, exclaimed "Bloody Hell! The wing's on Fire!"[2] A Mayday was broadcast at 15:29.[1]
In the control tower, the takeoff had been observed by John Davis, who saw what he initially thought was the sun reflecting off the aircraft's wing during its initial climb. Davis quickly realised that the aircraft was on fire. Davis instructed Flight 712 to make a left turn, with the intention that the aircraft would land on runway 28L.[4] He hit the "crash button" which alerted the emergency services and declared an aircraft accident. The emergency services were informed of the type of aircraft involved and given a rendezvous point at which they were to assemble.[2]
By this time, the windows on the port side at the rear of the fuselage were beginning to melt. As the aircraft flew over Thorpe the burning engine broke away from its mounting and fell into a gravel pit where some children were playing, without causing any injury to them.[2] At this time, the undercarriage was lowered and full flap selected. The flaps stopped some three degrees short of their full travel. The aircraft was at a height of 3,000 feet (910 m) and flying at 225 knots (417 km/h)[5] Stewardess Jennifer Suares repeated the emergency landing drill for the benefit of the passengers despite not being sure herself that they would actually manage to land before the aircraft exploded.[2]
The crew realised that the aircraft would not last long enough to enable a landing back on 28L, and declared a Mayday. Davis cleared the aircraft to land on runway 05R,[4] which was 7,733 feet (2,357 m) long.[6] He also instructed two other aircraft to perform an overshoot, as runway 05R crossed runway 28R, which they were due to land on and Davis did not know whether Flight 712 would be able to stop before reaching that runway.[4] The crew accepted Davis's offer of runway 05R, even though it was much shorter and not equipped with ILS.[2] Taylor was able to safely land the aircraft on 05R, using wheel brakes and reversing the outboard engines' thrust to halt the aircraft.[7] The aircraft touched down about 400 yards (370 m) beyond the threshold and stopped in 1,400 yards (1,300 m).[5] The aircraft had made a perfect emergency landing after just 3m:32s of flight. Taylor asked Davis for permission to evacuate, but the cabin crew were already opening the emergency doors.[2] The flight crew started the fire drill, but the port wing exploded before this could be completed. As a result, the fire shut off handles were not pulled, and the booster pumps and electrical supply were left switched on.[5] Due to the short period of time between the Mayday being declared at 15:29 and the aircraft landing at 15:31, there was no time for the emergency services to lay a carpet of foam, which was standard practice at the time.[1]
Evacuation
The cabin crew started the evacuation via both forward galley doors, both rear doors and the starboard overwing exits. Eighteen passengers escaped via the overwing exits before the fire grew too intense to use that route. The forward port galley door escape slide caught fire before it could be used, but one person jumped from there. Eighty-four people escaped via the starboard galley door. Three of the crew escaped by the emergency cockpit rope. The rear starboard door escape slide had twisted on deployment, so Steward Taylor climbed down to straighten it, leaving stewardess Barbara Jane Harrison at the door assisting the passengers. Six passengers escaped via this route before the slide was punctured and deflated. Harrison encouraged the passengers to jump, and pushed out those too frightened to do so. A total of eleven people escaped via this route, and five more escaped via the rear port door before the slide was destroyed. Harrison was last seen alive preparing to jump herself, but then she turned back and disappeared into the burning fuselage.[2][8] It was this action which led to the award of a George Cross to Harrison.[9] Thirty-eight people were injured, and five killed.[7]
Fire-fighting
The first two fire engines to arrive were unable to do much to stop the fire, as the drivers misjudged their distance, and also they were unable to make foam whilst on the move. To make foam, the main transfer gearboxes of the fire engines had to be operated, which meant that the vehicles were unable to move. Problems with couplings on the fire hoses exacerbated the situation - the fire hydrants had been regularly painted, and a build up of paint on the coupling threads prevented the hoses from being attached to the hydrants. The driver of a back-up foam tender drove in closer to the burning aircraft and discharged his foam effectively, but the fire had already gained hold by the time this happened.[10]
Passengers
The aircraft was carrying 116 passengers and eleven crew, five people were killed in the accident including Barbara Jane Harrison a stewardess and four passengers.[2][11]
One the survivors was the pop singer Mark Wynter who was travelling to Australia for his marriage to Janeece Corlass.[12]
Aircraft involved
The aircraft involved in the accident was a Boeing 707-465 registered G-ARWE (manufacturer's serial number 18373, Boeing line number 302).[5] First flown on 27 June 1962 the aircraft was originally to have been operated by Cunard Eagle Airways, but before it entered service it was sold to BOAC-Cunard and was delivered on 7 July 1962. On 21 November 1967, the aircraft suffered an engine failure on take off from Honolulu International Airport. The take off was aborted, there were no injuries to any of the passengers or crew.[13] At the time of the Heathrow accident, the aircraft had flown for a total of 20,870 hours.[5] The aircraft was insured for £2,200,000 with Lloyd's of London.[14]
Aftermath
Arrest of passenger
One of the passengers had been due to appear at Darlington Magistrates' Court on a charge of indecent assault on the day of the accident. His name was recognised by police when it appeared on a list of survivors and he was arrested 15 minutes before he could board a replacement flight to Australia. The man appeared at Darlington Magistrates' Court on 10 April where he pled guilty to the charge and was remanded in custody for 19 days whilst a medical report was prepared.[15]
Cause and results
In the subsequent investigation, metal fatigue was ultimately blamed for the failure of the number five compressor wheel in the number two Rolls Royce 508 Conway turbofan engine,[7] starting the rapid chain of failures. The crew's omission to shut off the fuel to the engine was blamed for the rapid growth of the fire and the loss of the aircraft.[5] The fire warning bell had been accidentally cancelled by Check Captain Moss instead of the undercarriage warning bell. Moss had also issued orders to Captain Taylor, in breach of the normal protocol for his duties. However, the report into the accident also stated that Captain Taylor had briefed Moss to act as an extra set of eyes and ears inside and outside the cockpit. Moss's actions therefore could be seen as acting within that remit.[4][16]
As a result of the investigation, and lessons learned from the chain of events, BOAC combined the "Engine Fire Drill" and "Engine Severe Failure Drill" checklists into one list, called the "Engine Fire or Severe Failure Drill". Modifications were also made to the checklist, including adding confirmation that the fire handles had been pulled to the checklist.[8]
Awards
Queen Elizabeth II awarded Barbara Jane Harrison a posthumous George Cross (GC), the only GC ever presented to a woman in peacetime.[9] Her medal was accepted on her behalf by her father, Alan.[2] Harrison is the youngest ever female recipient of the George Cross.[17] Neville Davis-Gordon was awarded the British Empire Medal for Gallantry (BEM).[9] John Davis was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).[2]
The citation for Barbara Jane Harrison's GC reads:-[9][18]
GEORGE CROSS On April 8th 1968, soon after take-off from Heathrow Airport, No. 2 engine of B.O.A.C. Boeing 707 G-ARWE caught fire and subsequently fell from the aircraft, leaving a fierce fire burning at No. 2 engine position. About two and a half minutes later the aircraft made an emergency landing at the airport and the fire on the port wing intensified. Miss Harrison was one of the stewardesses in this aircraft and the duties assigned to her in an emergency were to help the steward at the aft station to open the appropriate rear door and inflate the escape chute and then to assist the passengers at the rear of the aircraft to leave in an orderly manner. When the aircraft landed Miss Harrison and the steward concerned opened the rear galley door and inflated the chute, which unfortunately became twisted on the way down so that the steward had to climb down it to straighten it before it could be used. Once out of the aircraft he was unable to return; hence Miss Harrison was left alone to the task of shepherding passengers to the rear door and helping them out of the aircraft. She encouraged some passengers to jump from the machine and pushed out others. With flames and explosions all around her and escape from the tail of the machine impossible she directed her passengers to another exit while she remained at her post. She was finally overcome while trying to save an elderly cripple who was seated in one of the last rows and whose body was found close to that of the stewardess. Miss Harrison was a very brave young lady who gave her life in her utter devotion to duty.
The citation for Neville Davis-Gordon's BEM reads:-[9][18]
Award of the British Empire Medal for Gallantry (Civil Division) On April 8th 1968, soon after take-off from Heathrow Airport, No. 2 engine of B.O.A.C. Boeing 707 G-ARWE caught fire, and subsequently fell from the aircraft, leaving a fierce fire burning at the No. 2 engine position. About two and a half minutes later the aircraft made an emergency landing at the airport and the fire on the port wing intensified. Mr. Davis-Gordon was Chief Steward aboard the aircraft, under his command, the cabin staff successfully organised the escape of 112 passengers, from a total of 116 from the burning aircraft. The Chief Steward's firm and calm instructions not only guided passengers to the most appropriate exit, but clearly helped to avoid any panic. On one occasion it was necessary for Mr. Davis-Gordon to get out on to the starboard wing to assist a passenger who had become stranded there because of the spread of the fire. He helped her back, re-entered the aircraft and directed her to a safe escape exit at the front of the aircraft. By remaining on the aircraft until he was satisfied all survivors had left the main cabin, he risked his life in the knowledge that a further explosion might occur at any moment and engulf the aircraft. His coolness and qualities of leadership were of a high order and an inspiration to his cabin staff, who themselves displayed high qualities of devotion to duty in spite of the obvious perils of the situation.
See also
Other accidents in which aircrew were decorated include:
References
- ^ a b c "121 Escape as blazing Boeing crashes at Heathrow". The Times. No. 57222. London. 9 April 1968. col A, p. 1. template uses deprecated parameter(s) (help)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k O'Brien, Tim (2008). "The Last Flight of Whiskey Echo". Aeroplane. 36, Number 6 (422): p30–35. ISSN 0143-7240.
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ignored (help) - ^ "BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF HEATHROW AIRPORT". Miles faster. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ a b c d Ottaway, Susan (2008). "Chapter 4, The Last Flight of Whiskey Echo". Fire over Heathrow, The Tragedy of Flight 712. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. pp. p40–61. ISBN 978 184415 7396.
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(help) - ^ a b c d e f Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 26 March 2008
- ^ "Super VC10 Navigation & Performance Manual". VC10.net. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- ^ a b c "Special Report: British Overseas Airline Company Flight 712". Air Disaster. Retrieved 26 March 2008. NB: Report has wrong date and wrong direction of flight 'over Hounslow'
- ^ a b Job, MacArthur (1994). Air Disaster. Vol. 1. Weston Creek, ACT: Aerospace Publications. p. p60–66. ISBN 1 875671 11 0.
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has extra text (help) - ^ a b c d e "No. 44913". The London Gazette (invalid
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(help)). 7 August 1969. The citation for Harrison's GC is on p.1, Davis-Gordon's BEM is on p.3 - ^ Duncan, Stephen (2009). "Heathrow 707 fire". Aeroplane. 37 (1): p98–99. ISSN 0143-7240.
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ignored (help) - ^ Ottaway, Susan (2008). "Chapter 5, The Tragedy of Flight 712". Fire over Heathrow, The Tragedy of Flight 712. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. pp. p62–77. ISBN 978 184415 7396.
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(help) - ^ Ottaway, Susan (2008). "Chapter 3, The Final Briefing". Fire over Heathrow, The Tragedy of Flight 712. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. pp. p19–39. ISBN 978 184415 7396.
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(help) - ^ "NTSB Identification: OAK68A0046". National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
- ^ "Jet crash: £2m insurance bill". The Times. No. 57223. London. 10 April 1968. col F, p. 211. template uses deprecated parameter(s) (help)
- ^ "Air survivor in court". The Times. No. 57224. London. 11 April 1968. col G, p. 2. template uses deprecated parameter(s) (help)
- ^ Ottaway, Susan (2008). "Chapter 8, Replacements, investigations and Reports". Fire over Heathrow, The Tragedy of Flight 712. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. pp. p105–29. ISBN 978 184415 7396.
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(help) - ^ "The Decoration, Facts and Statistics and Information about the Exchanges: The George Cross". George Cross Database. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
- ^ a b Crown copyright
- Ottaway, Susan (2008). Fire over Heathrow: The Tragedy of Flight 712. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 9781844157396.
External links
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- http://www.airliners.net
- Colour photo of burning aircraft
- Barbara Jane Harrison's George Cross details.