Aircraft investigation >>>>>>> HOME PAGE
Luftschiff “Erbsloh”
On July 13, 1910, a cloudy day with sunny periods, the Erbslöh airship crashed near Pattscheid (now a district of Leverkusen). All five people on board were killed. The cause, which was determined by the commission of inquiry, is assumed to be the sudden sunlight on the hull after the ship had crossed under a cloud or exceeded the morning fog. Due to the heating of the lifting gas by the sun, it expanded. The critical pressure height ( Prallhöhe ) dropped below the height of the airship. The pressure relief valves could not release the resulting overpressure in the envelop quickly enough, so that it tore open. When the hydrogen gas came into contact with sparks from the engine it exploded. The ship crashed.
For the witnesses on the ground, only a bang could be heard, the ship was not visible through the morning mist. The "Erbslöh" crashed in an open field, near the village of Neuenkamp. Location : +- 1km : 51°05’26”N 7°02’25”E . The front part of the gondola was smashed. The shell lay tattered over it. The crew was found dead among the rubble. Actually, the ship was only supposed to cruise over Leichlingen (51°06’05”N 7°00’32”E) for half an hour.
In addition to Oskar Erbslöh , Max Toelle (1878–1910), Rudolf Kranz, Hans Leo Höpp and the mechanic Joseph Spicks died in the accident. In her honor, a monument was erected near Oskar-Erbslöh-Straße in Leichlingen.
Data airship : Length : 53.20 [m] diameter : 10.50 [m] Volume : 3300 [m3]
Engine : 125 p.s. (92 [KW] driving a 4.55 [m] diameter two-bladed aircrew at 400 rpm.
Max. speed : 45 [km/h]
The Luftschiff “Erbsloh” handled at the ground near Balken ( 51°05’28”N 7°01’26”E ) close to Leichlingen
Memorial for the 5 crew who died in the crash
Literature :
Accident Airship “Erbslöh” , 13 Jul 1910 (aviation-safety.net)
Erbslöh (Luftschiff) – Wikipedia
Luftschiff Erbslöh - Erbslöh explodierte im Morgennebel (erbsloeh.org)