10. BIG TROUBLE AT NEW YORK AIRWAYS

New York Airways had been operating their V-107service between Kennedy, La Guardia, Newark, and Wall Street for some time when they experienced a fatal accident, The crew of three and, I think, three passengers perished. The investigation revealed that an aft transmission lubrication jet had become clogged and the lack of lubrication caused the failure.

The airline was grounded for a short period and when they resumed operation, passengers were few and far between. Since they are a scheduled commercial airline they cannot cancel a scheduled flight except for a mechanical problem or weather. Not for a lack of passengers.

They would claim mechanical for any minor item, which made things worse. Example: If someone was taking an overseas flight out of Kennedy, and planned to get there via New York Airways, they arrived at Newark only to find the flight canceled, and no other way to get to Kennedy in time to make the flight. Some of the ticket agents told me they hid behind the counter.

On thing led to another and a major dispute developed between New York Airways management and our Customer Service Department.  As a result our service representative was sent home and NYA would only talk to Engineering.  It was suggested that, since I taught  them the 107 aircraft that I would take a couple  of my guys, from flight test engineering, go up there and try to get things going.  I took Walt Davis and Archie Stalcup, two outstanding 107 flight test engineers.  This was acceptable to NYA.

We stayed with them 24/7, reviewed every discrepancy written by the pilots, and followed up on each and every item. We were there for several weeks, including  Christmas. We had our two small children at that time; my poor wife had to do it alone.  I came home at 10 p.m. Christmas Eve and went back at 2 p.m. Christmas day.

Gradually things came around and we were able to come back  home.

Charles Kessler is a retired flight test engineer for Boeing’s Vertol helicopter division (formerly Piasecki Helicopter Co.). He joined Piesecki in 1947, in the company’s fourth year, and retired from Boeing in 1983. During his 37-year career he took part in the testing of prototypes and alterations of such models as the CH-47 Chinook and Sea Knight, the H-16, HRP-2, and the V-107. He taught the stability augmentation system to the German Luftwaffe. He has written about his experience in a blog called “Early Helicopter Years,” which can be found at http://helicopterstory.blogspot.com/.