Wreckage Parts – Fairey Gordon

Wreckage Parts

Aircraft Crash Investigation and stocktake - 26 January 2018

Written by RAF Squadron Leader Jonathan Pote

Note: the chance was not taken to inspect wing/fuselage attachments, tail/fuselage etc to see if they had been separated ‘sympathetically. I would assume that the (professional) dismantlers did the best job possible under difficult circumstances although some damage must have occurred as the helicopter lifted the airframes out of the trees. On the plus side, although the air force recovered the engine, the circular exhaust stacks, oil cooler, and other vital ‘engine area’ bits remain.

Overview:

This shows most of the components laid out in place, wings either side of fuselage. When this was taken, the tail plane was wrongly positioned as a wing. Behind the propeller are four circular cowling components. Removeable fuselage panels (pairs of each) are beside the exhausts, undercarriage components and wheels are in place but not obvious. The yellow metal cockpit surround is new-build but the originals are on the ground underneath. The upper centre section is roughly in line with the rear cockpit. All interplane strut components are laid between the two port wings, slats in front of each wing. Behind the port wings are two cardboard boxes of wing ribs. Behind the wings are several control surfaces, ailerons, flaps, elevators etc. There was not time to identify each but control surfaces have assembly number both on metal plate and hand painted in 3 cm figures: F8 46904 appeared to be an aileron. F8 46826 appeared to be an elevator. And so on. In the forground is an unsorted mass of minor ‘bits’ and fittings, including several bits of wing spar. There are five spare wheels, two from Vincent/Vildebeest (Tyres PALMER 74434RM with Air Ministry crest 970 x 225).

View from front:

The propeller is pretty complete, front spinner possibly in a box of bits. One tip has half a dozen 0.303 well grouped holes from forward gun discharging on impact when aircraft mushed into trees. Circular cowlings (4, yellow and black) are complete and fuselage side panels (each one labelled ‘NZ629) are in pairs. The oil cooler is present, as is an ignition harness (marked ‘Mercury’). The half exhaust rings are in good condition. Exhaust pipes beside or to rear. Crankcase component to rear.

Front Fuselage:

Probably all of the structure is here, albeit badly bent by impact. Frank thinks it could be straightened for a restoration or act as template for reverse engineering. Fuel and oil tanks in fair condition, lots of fittings and pipes.

Cockpit rea from forward port:

The cockpit probably has all fittings (more could be in cardboard boxes): Sprockets, trim wheels, rudder pedals, pilot’s seat, stick etc, all in place. Access foot placings on fuselage side intact. This structure was fabric covered, fragments plus lacing cord visible. Yellow metal is new-built, originals on ground, conservable.

Visible beyond is a slat, and an undercarriage spat (From another type?)

Rear fuselage from port side:

The structure seems to be all there, bracing wires included. Fabric has rotted off but laced edge visible. The tail skid is massive. The ragged bags within are flotation bags. Visible beyond are bits of control surfaces.

View from starboard quarter:

Visible are control surface bits, including probably rudder. There was not enough time to place them correctly, but there seemed to be ‘enough’. At left edge are four tailplane struts.

Port upper wing:

The least damaged wing, with flap and slat. Centre section just beyond. Interplane strut bits to right.

Tailplane:

The tailplane, including port elevator. Tailplane struts laid out.