From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Investigation report into a Bentley axle failure and the circumstances of the resulting accident.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 181\M10\ img156 | |
| Date | 18th February 1936 | |
| 4 - B - IV. So far as can be ascertained this was a perfectly normal Bentley before anything occurred. The fractures of the axle indicate sudden complete failure with no evidence of fatigue cracks. No damage resulted from the first heavy normal braking or the car would have immediately indicated this by being practically undrivable. All our experience in testing axles to destruction by tramping and juddering etc., has only resulted in twisting the pivots to a max. of 9° and has always resulted in buckling the brake toggles. Road marks 50 yds. previous to the axle dropping on the road indicate that the offside bumper end was in contact with the road surface. Further, deeply indented marks at the beginning of the swerve also appears to confirm that the bumper was involved. Damage to the off-side tyre may also be attributed to the bumper. At the moment when the axle apparently went on to full lock in the first instance there is no direct evidence of what caused it. Other than the marks in the road the evidence indicates that the bumper bar remained on the car, although the absence of one of the U bolts indicates that there is a possibility of this having been lost a long way earlier. At the moment it is impossible to say any more until tests have been completed to reproduce the axle and steering failures. Improvements to the bumper bar together with a safety clip are being prepared. [Handwritten text below] To Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Above are notes of a conference held in H's office at which F & PBY were present in order to determine the cause of the accident to 4-B-IV HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/ SH Grylls | ||