September 07, 2014
Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise operation from the late 1960's to 1974.
Thousands of engine changes and aircraft repairs have taken place over the
years in remote locations. Many of these aircraft repairs are carried out under
very harsh conditions.
The engine change described below was carried out under the very best of
conditions. This occurred during the summer of 1972.
Cessna 180 CF-LBR was based in Round Lake. The aircraft was flown by one
of Mr. Wieben's highest time pilots. In late June or early July the aircraft was
flying from Round Lake to Sioux Lookout when north of Bingo Lake the engine
suffered a major internal failure and quit. The pilot landed on the lake and tied
the aircraft to the trees on the shore of a sandy point of land.
A radio call was relayed to the base in Sioux Lookout and another Cessna 180
flew in and picked up the pilot. I can't recall if there were any passengers
on board LBR when the engine quit.
The next day the Sioux Lookout maintenance crew flew into Bingo Lake which
was approx. 50 miles north of Sioux to change the engine. The replacement engine
was flown in on Beech 18 CF-ZQR.
The Cessna 180 was pulled up under a tree on the shoreline. A small hand winch
was attached to a large branch on the tree.
The engine was stripped and then lifted off. Engine accessories were changed over
on the shoreline and the new engine was lifted into place and the installation was
completed. After an engine run up was carried out the engine cowlings were reinstalled.
Because the aircraft had been pulled up on the sand bar (no rocks in the water at all)
for the engine change, a rope was tied to the rear floats struts of LBR and to the rear
float struts of Beech 18 CF-ZQR and with just a tiny bit of power the Beech pulled the
Cessna back in the water. The failed engine, tool boxes, etc were all loaded into the
Beech 18 for the trip back to Sioux. LBR was flown out of Bingo Lake at the same
time by the pilot who had assisted with the engine change.
CF-LBR remained in Sioux Lookout for the rest of the summer while Cessna 180 CF-VSD
went to Round Lake for the remainder of the float season.
A photo of Cessna 180 CF-LBR pulled up under a tree on the shoreline to have the
engine replaced. This was the failed engine before removal.
The propeller and some accessories have already been taken off.
Cessna 180 CF-VGA parked at the end of the sand point on Bingo Lake.
As can be seen in the photo it was a perfect day for an engine change.
Sunny and hot, no bugs. CF-VGA was a Sioux Lookout based aircraft.