Lakehurst machinery and the fatal Camp Kearny mooring

The Navy invested in a powered turntable and walking beam at Lakehurst so electric mine locomotives could control Akron's tail and align the airship with its hangar in strong winds. The coast-to-coast flight then exposed the danger of mooring such a large airship away from its home infrastructure. Sunlight warmed and expanded the helium while the lift change became equivalent to roughly 40 tons of consumed fuel, making Akron suddenly and uncontrollably light. When the mooring cable was cut, four handlers remained on the lines: two fell to their deaths, one suffered a broken arm after releasing, and Charles Cowart survived by securing himself until the crew hauled him aboard.