Skymaster Arctic Circle Ditching.

[Roger]

I don't mean to be contentious giiven your extensive experience, personal observations, and expertiese, I am only concerned that because this is an "infomrmation sharing website" that we should all be cautious about what we profess to "know for sure" when it may affect other pilots safety.

I would think that because we don't "know" what happneded to your engines, that we should keep an open mind about other possibilities such as vapor lock and/or fuel stavation, gelling, fuel pumped outboard through the vents, frozen/cracked cork fuel tank seals, etc...

I didn't notice if you ever mentioned cross feeding the tanks, before or after the engine failure. For example when the rear failed, did it make the same loud noise, and/or did it just go out for an entirely different reason, and because the front failed from perhaps an oil problem, did you assume the rear had the same problem, and there was no reason or time to try a cross feed and restart?

Not picking on you : It must have been a nightmare. Just want to make sure nonone else encounters a like scenerio and has the wrong assumptions.

[Diamond Service]

Dear Roger.
I totally agree with you. For the same reason I try not to speculate or draw conclusions and just write exactly what happened and what I observed. I told my story in this forum because I was very thrilled about being a Skymaster owner and pilot. I am not trying to say that the Skymaster is a bad and unsafe aircraft. More than anybody I would like some answers to what happened to my engines,but unless the aircraft is salvaged I will probably never get any answers.I have been told that the Hudson Strait is 113 meters deep at the position we were picked up and since there is nobody in the plane it will not be raised.

Troels

[Skymaster337B]

Well said, but since this is an information web site, the info we've discussed is very valuable and should be taken to heart by all of us. For me personally, the -20C is a big red alarm if I'm ever flying in weather that cold...let's hope not.

[Paul462]

So Troels, when are you buying the replacement 337? There are some great deals around!

If you can pick one up during the next couple of months, you can meet us at the 2010 SOAPA Fly-In in Branson! :-)

[Diamond Service]

Paul
Do you know any good ones. I need the following.

Non turbo VAR crankshaft engines with some time left.Deicer boots.Preferably with some new garmin avionic including mode S transponder and a 406 ELT. ADF and DME is still a requirement in my country .Propellers and governors within their calender lifetime of 6 years. Magnetos within their calender lifetime of 4 years. Engine and airframe hoses within their lifetime as stated in the maintenance manual.

These are all EASA requirements and I know that finding one that meets all of them is hard since you normally dont do overhauls based on calender time in the US and so on.

I hope that I can go to one of your meetings some day and see your Skymasters.

Troels.

[Paul462]

Troels,

It sounds like a normally aspirated 337 with engines having been overhauled within the last 10 or 15 years should do - VAR cranks should have been installed at that time.

To get a panel still equipped with ADF/DME you'll probably want an older, non-updated panel (updated panels would have removed at least the ADF), and install a 406 ELT and S XPDR. If you don't require a panel-mounted IFR GPS (and even if you do), a Garmin 496 provides amazing functionalities.

Are there life limits stated on engines? I've only heard of TBO's. Replacing the engine hoses and airframe flexible hoses isn't that big a deal, and would start you on a new 5-year cycle.

Happy hunting!

[gwengler]

Here is the link to a CBC documentary. As good as it gets, I guess.

http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/Shows/ID/2305885459/

Gerd