# Saving an aircraft from salt water **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2021, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-aircraft-from-salt-water/940312 "2021-04-19T16:11:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-aircraft-from-salt-water/940312/1 "2021-04-19T16:11:19Z")
Re: The TBM Avenger that ditched in Cocoa Beach. > **[WATCH: WWII-era plane makes emergency water landing at Cocoa Beach Air Show](https://www.wftv.com/news/local/brevard-county/plane-lands-ocean-after-mechanical-issues-cocoa-beach-air-show/MLPSBYMU2JDKZHFBIRTOCBNO6Y/)** > > A World War II era aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in the ocean during the Cocoa Beach Air Show on Saturday. I’m guessing the structural damage is not too severe; maybe a bent engine mount and some minor sheet metal work. But the aircraft ditched in salt water. Aside from the obvious mechanical problem that caused the crash and airframe damaged caused by ditching, what is involved in restoring it such that corrosion can be prevented and the aircraft is airworthy again? ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-aircraft-from-salt-water/940312/2 "2021-04-19T17:50:30Z")
It’s already been wet, so getting it wet again won’t hurt it. I assume that submerging it in fresh water would be the best way of removing salt that is in crevices where corrosion would start. May need to flush it several times, and then thoroughly dry before starting restoration. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-aircraft-from-salt-water/940312/3 "2021-04-19T23:27:42Z")
It’s a Navy carrier plane, so it least it was designed for exposure to salt spray. If the engine was still turning at landing, it may have inhaled water and been been all but destroyed. If not, the engine may have been all but water-tight: engines are designed to contain hot gasses and retain hot solvents. Interesting to see how easy that water-landing looked. And I think that model may have experienced a lot of successful water landings: A WWII heavy bomber might have broken up trying to do the same. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-aircraft-from-salt-water/940312/4 "2021-04-19T23:32:49Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Interesting to see how easy that water-landing looked. I read an article many years ago about the best kind of airplane for ditching. A low-wing airplane keeps the fuselage above water, but the wings are more susceptible to ‘digging in’ and causing the aircraft to cartwheel. A high-wing airplane reduces the risk of cartwheeling by letting the fuselage touch first and slow things down, but the cockpit tends to be submerged. The article concluded that a mid-wing airplane is best because much of the energy is absorbed before the wings hit, and the cockpit tends to remain above the waterline. I can’t speak to it based on any practical experience. The TBM is a mid-wing airplane. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-aircraft-from-salt-water/940312/5 "2021-04-20T17:00:22Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I read an article many years ago about the best kind of airplane for ditching. Given a choice, I’ll go with seaplane. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-aircraft-from-salt-water/940312/6 "2021-04-20T19:46:43Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Interesting to see how easy that water-landing looked. And I think that model may have experienced a lot of successful water landings: A WWII heavy bomber might have broken up trying to do the same. The second thing\* naval aircraft are is sturdy. This is because they do not land on carriers so much as have a controlled crash. My Dad flew in TBMs as a radioman during WWII and the only combat-related injury he got was when the pilot came in bad and broke off the tail hook. They kept right on going and over the front. Luckily the ship turned in time to keep from running them over and the pilot redeemed himself by pulling Dad out – he had a couple stoved in ribs and was having trouble. \*After being able to fly in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![FrenchDunadan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frenchdunadan/32/5449_2.png) [@FrenchDunadan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrenchDunadan)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-aircraft-from-salt-water/940312/7 "2021-04-22T14:51:46Z")
And the pilot could have claimed “Last thing I saw was a great white light ! and then I was there. What year is it?” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-aircraft-from-salt-water/940312/8 "2021-04-22T14:55:41Z")
Here’s are two videos on the recovery. It’s a shame the Coast Guard would not let them have the less-damaging option. ☹ The first one has a presenter. The second one is raw footage. [TBM RECOVERY UPDATE! - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i27CN9uVIS4) [TBM Avenger Water Recovery - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSORkfEGTVI)