Engine out at 1100’
 

Well, the reason I bought the Skymaster happened today. Flying low around the DC airspace at about 1200’ I looked at my dual engine analyzers and saw that my rear engine was cold. Identified. Moved the rear throttle up and back and found no rpm changes. Verified. Screw fix, too low to play games I feathered the dead rear engine. Moved the prop and throttle on the forward engine all the way forward and she flew like a champ. Declared an emergency and the landing was decidedly anticlimactic. Fire engine staffers were disappointed but I cruised right in.

So what happened? Well, on the ground I had a heck of a time getting it out of feather. But it finally did. And the engine roared back to life. All seems normal on the ground.

I have an 337-experienced AP coming to check her out tomorrow. Yes, I did a run up and found nothing of note at that time. My only hypothesis is perhaps catching that rear prop into feather during runup and not noticing it—-this happened once before and I did notice it and had a hard time getting it out of feather that time. Perhaps more attention needs to be paid to the post prop check rpm.

Your thoughts?

Tim

Perhaps, Tim. Are you leading the takeoff with the rear engine?

You did good, deal with it by getting the airplane safely on the ground.

I'm a day back at the Skymaster flying, took delivery of my airplane yesterday, and flew two legs home. The old habits were still there; leading with the rear engine off the ramp and taxing on to the runway.

Glad it turned out as it did.

Were you ever able to come up with any plausible diagnoses for the incident?