
May 1958 to August 1960
Continental Airlines
N240V - c/n 353 - a V.812 series Viscount
United States registered
December 1955
Continental Airlines placed an order for fifteen V.812 aircraft, which were to be marketed by Continental as the 'Viscount II'.
Sales Order No. F01/94B.
On the production line it was noted fitted with an experimental rudder for flight trials possibly as part of a US certification process. The rudder included the complete fin cap which acted like a horn balance.
This type of rudder was also fitted to G-AOYF (C/N 255) and G-AOYV (C/N 316) when owned by Vickers but as both these aircraft suffered from rudder failures during flight trials it is not known if this aircraft ever flew in this configuration. It reverted back to the standard rudder before delivery. No customer aircraft were delivered with this type of rudder.
14 February 1958
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.
It landed back at Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England to continue its test flying programme.
10 May 1958
Departed from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England on delivery.
It was fitted with integral front 'airsteps' and the standard type of rudder.
After delivery it was named as 'Los Angeles' at Los Angeles International Airport, California, USA and the number '240' was subsequently applied to the nosewheel doors.
11 July 1958
During a scheduled service in the cruise phase near North Platte, Nebraska, USA the No.2 Rolls-Royce Dart engine suffered an uncontained HP Turbine Disc failure resulting in an auto-feather of the propeller.
An emergency landing an an unknown location was made without further incident.
The cause of the engine malfunction was the failure of the auxilliary gearbox (AGB) drive breather layshaft which caused the HP Turbine Disc to burst and penetrate the nacelle cowlings, fortunately without further contact with the fuselage.
There were no reported injuries to the 22 passengers and 4 crew on board.
Repaired and returned to service.
August 1960
Sold to the Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation.
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