Originally Posted by
WRosato
Dear All,
I am researching an accident involving SE-BDY at NDOLA in the then Northern Rhodesia in 1961.
SE-BDY was a DC6B and I read an interesting analysis in a book called "Disasters in the Air" by Jan Bartelski. The technical aspects are a bit beyond me but I think the hypothesis is that: 1) DC6B's had a quirk that meant that "residual cabin pressure had to be dumped before landing". 2) The "static system" had a detached connection. Together the depressurisation and the compromise of the static system combined to make the pilots believe they were higher than they actually were. The author seems to know what he is talking about and mentions the positions of a manual release valve etc as supporting his theory.
I would be interested to speak to anyone who has knowledge/experience of DC6B's and could explain this to a layman.
Best
Bill
I read the book many years ago. It has several accident theories which to me seemed like conspiracy theories. The DC-6 report seems to focus on a CFIT while the book is asking if a single bullet might have brought the craft down.
Only guesses, but my interpretation of point #1 is that the DC-6B is fully depressurized in flight so that it will be fully depressurized once it touches down which prevents a situation of residual pressure preventing the doors from opening quickly in an emergency.
My interpretation of point #2 is that there was a fault in the static system due to a line becoming disconnected which caused erroneous altimeter readings that led to the crew thinking they were higher than they actually were while on a night approach over poorly lit terrain.