Discovery of vintage aircraft engine component near Tuskar Rock

Casualties unknown • IE

An investigation by the AAIU has identified a recovered maritime object as a piece of a Rolls Royce Merlin aero engine supercharger.

What happened

On January 21, 1999, a fishing vessel named Angela B hauled an unidentified object from the seabed approximately twenty miles south of Tuskar Rock. The item was brought to Kilmore Quay on January 28, 1999. Following its recovery, the object was transferred to the Air Corps Station in Gormanston for detailed examination by the Air Accident Investigation Unit.

The investigation

The recovered item was heavily covered in marine growth, including various barnacles. Investigators cleaned the object by scraping away the biological encrustations, which revealed a small brass plate. This plate featured patent numbers 288173, 308301, and 349438, and utilized the British spelling of the word "licenced."

Technical analysis of the object's construction showed it was primarily made of magnesium alloy, though significant portions had been destroyed by saltwater corrosion. The component was circular, measuring roughly 18 inches in diameter and 16 inches in length. By examining the size of the internal air passages and measuring a corroded 5/16 BSF bolt, investigators determined the part originated from a piston engine producing approximately 1,000 horsepower.

Further research involving the British Library's patents desk revealed that the listed patents, held by Henri and Maurice Farman, were issued between 1928 and 1931 for aircraft engine supercharging. Through photographic comparison with historical UK engine records, the AAIU identified the component as a supercharger from a Rolls Royce Merlin aero engine, likely an early variant such as the Merlin XX.

Findings

  • The object is a component of a Rolls Royce Merlin engine supercharger.
  • The use of British spelling and specific patent data suggests the part was of UK design or manufacture.
  • Due to the nature of the trawling process, which spanned an eight-nautical-mile area, the exact location of the original loss cannot be precisely determined.
  • The investigation concluded that the object is highly unlikely to be related to the 1968 Aer Lingus Viscount accident at Tuskar Rock.

Probable cause

The object was identified as a vintage Rolls Royce Merlin engine supercharger, likely lost at sea at an undetermined time and location prior to its recovery by a trawler.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the null aircraft accident near IE?

An investigation by the AAIU has identified a recovered maritime object as a piece of a Rolls Royce Merlin aero engine supercharger.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on null involved a aircraft, at IE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The object was identified as a vintage Rolls Royce Merlin engine supercharger, likely lost at sea at an undetermined time and location prior to its recovery by a trawler.

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