Originally Posted by
WideScreen
For big commercial stuff, not advisable, though for small C172 alike, in principle yes (for the PPL, there is a zero -assumed malfunctioning- flaps training item to fly the C172 at a very shallow angle, without flare, against the deck, with suitable power). I'd say, a dead-stick twin otter should be treated like a (dead-stick) C172 (no power to support shallow-angle approaches. Feel free to correct me.
That's the way I've been approaching the water entry.
It makes a lot of sense to ship the floats over in the belly of a big rig.
Less drag, and safer ditch if needed...
I think your summary makes sense, keep the nose up as long as possible, hoping when it hit, submergence is in the "shallow angle enough such that it pops back up, instead of pitching the whole business over" domain.
Also, hoping for a tail low aspect, so when the gear enters fully, the Nose coming down will plop, rather than sink and trip the a/c over its nose....(then again, if sufficiently entry vertical, the floats are sturdy enough to absorb alot of energy. Keeping them on for the journey for that reason however, implies alot of defeatism at the outset)
something like that?