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The other piece to which this one had been attached was found nearby with the sound-proofing side up. This piece showed no evidence of fire in the sound proofing nor did the edges where the break occurred show any signs of smoke.
No parts of the engines, nacelles, or pilots' compartment showed any evidence of fire. Some parts of the fuel tanks which had apparently been broken at the time of impact showed evidence of fire. While this evidence consisted for the most part of marks of smoke, a large part of one tank had been melted, probably because it had carried a small quantity of gasoline with it following the impact, which burned on the ground. Ten pouches of mail which had been carried in the mail compartment which is formed by heavy wire mesh partitions in the companionway between the pilots compartment and the passenger cabin were examined and no indications of fire on the pouches or the mail were found. All fire extinguishers on board the airplane were accounted for and none of them had been used.
There is nothing which could be considered as inflammable material either in the passenger or pilot compartment. The upholstery, carpets, seat cushions, etc., which are treated with a fire resistant chemical could be burned only by application of intense heat or after having been soaked with some inflammable fluid. There were three water flares in a closed compartment located about two feet behind the pilots' compartment. A one-gallon can of water to replenish the water supply in the boiler which provides steam heat to the airplane is normally carried in the same compartment about 18 inches below and 15 inches behind the water flares. Part of the flotation gear[1] is carried between
- ↑ The flotation gear carried by Pennsylvania-Central Airlines is to safeguard passengers in the event of a forced landing in crossing over Lake Erie and Lake Michigan. It consists of two rubber rafts which can be instantly inflated by releasing a valve in a carbon dioxide tank that is carried with each raft for that purpose. Life preservers to accommodate all passengers and crew are also carried on the airplane.
