The TBM Avenger Project

On 20 May 1975, TBM Avenger #20 FZYC piloted by Hans Koerfgen and
contracted from Hicks and Lawrence Ltd. of St. Thomas, Ontario, developed
engine trouble and crashed in a swampy area approximately ¾ mile north of
Juniper Airstrip. The aircraft was complete write-off and the wreck was
abandoned; the pilot was unhurt.
The following compilation from ACAM newsletters describes the recovery of CF-
ZYC and its restoration to a copy of C-GFPL, Forest Protection Limited’s TBM
Avenger #24.

May/June 2002 ACAM Newsletter

 Wreck of #B20 near the Juniper airstrip. [J. Dyer]

Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum, Bedford,

NS
(on site at Forest Protection Limited,
Fredericton, NB)
1996-2005
1997 - The aircraft was recovered from the crash site in 1997.
1997-2001 - Under restoration to waterbomber configuration, FPL, Fredericton,
NB, July 1997-2001.
 Recovering the airframe. [J. Dyer]

TBM AVENGER RESTORATION

[From ACAM’s Avenger page:]

The restored FKYC wearing the FPL colours and bearing the number 24, at the Atlantic
Canada Aviation Museum in Bedford, NS.

This aircraft was restored by the Museum's New Brunswick Wing of Volunteers.
On the evening of May 20, 1975 a contractor operating TBM Avenger, CF-ZYC,
call sign "Tanker 20", took off from the Juniper Airstrip in New Brunswick. Flying
the aircraft was an experienced contract pilot who was flying a normal spray
mission. Minutes after takeoff the Avenger lost power and the pilot had no choice
but to make a wheels-up crash landing in the woods. Thankfully, the pilot
managed to walk away from the crash shaken but not seriously injured. He had
hit his head on the instrument panel hard enough to crack his helmet and was
knocked unconscious for a couple of minutes. The strength of the TBM Avenger
design probably saved his life. Two other pilots who have crash landed Avengers
in 1998 and 1999 also walked away without serious injury. A testament to the
strength of the Grumman design.
The Avenger was designed by Grumman as a torpedo bomber to fly off of aircraft
carriers for the United States Navy. It saw action in World War II and was flown
by many Air Arms including the Royal Canadian Navy, which operated Avengers
until the late 1950's when the last ones were replaced by the Tracker. The
Avenger has proven to be a ruggedly designed, long lasting airframe. The first
Avengers to be operated in the Water Bomber role, in Atlantic Canada, appeared
in New Brunswick in 1958. A fleet of six Avengers with four reserve aircraft
continue to operate in 1999. The civilian fire fighting Avenger outlasting its
military role easily without an end in sight.
In the summer of 1996, a group of ACAM members approached the New
Brunswick Forest Protection Limited (FPL) and J.D. Irving Woodlands, owner of
the land where the crash site of CF-ZYC was located, regarding recovering this
valuable piece of aviation history. A plan was developed for the recovery and
restoration of the Avenger to its Water Bomber configuration. The Atlantic
Canada Aviation Museum is pleased to add the Avenger to our collection, in it's
civilian role. (A military Avenger is currently displayed at the Shearwater Aviation
Museum.) The restoration work is being carried out by the New Brunswick Wing
of the Museum with the help of Forest Protection Limited and the Moncton
Community College.
While recovering an aircraft from a crash site may seem easy, the recovery of
CF-ZYC was not. The aircraft was located in dense alders 1,000 feet from the
nearest logging road. In addition to the clearing of alders and trees to the road,
the recovery team also had to cross a stream in order to reach the logging road.
The actual recovery effort began in the fall of 1996. The aircraft was jacked up,
landing gear lowered, wings and tail surfaces removed. When it came time to
move ZYC in the winter, it was towed on skies designed by John Mossman and
manufactured out of guard rail sections by Caldwell and Ross Construction in
Fredericton. Finally, the aircraft was moved from the crash site to the Juniper
airstrip on January 10, 1997. The same airfield it departed 22 years earlier.
In July of 1997, the remains of CF-ZYC were transported to the Forest Protection
Limited base in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Here, Museum volunteers are in the
process of restoring the aircraft. The Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum would
like to thank FPL for their assistance in the ongoing restoration effort and for
providing a location for the New Brunswick Wing to work on CF-ZYC. As well,
FPL has provided the museum with parts from the crashes of Tanker 14 (1998)
and Tanker 17 (1999) for use in the restoration of Tanker 20. We would also like
to thank the Aircraft Maintenance School in Moncton for their support, as well.
The Maintenance School has provided hours of technical support and restoration
work. This partnership with the School provides many benefits for both the
students and the Museum. Namely, a practical project for the students to work
on, while the Museum benefits from the expert help that the students and staff
provide.
The Summer of 2005 saw the Avenger Project come to completion and the
aircraft was transferred from the New Brunswick Wing's restoration site in
Fredericton to the Museum in Halifax by Atlantic Pacific Transport Ltd. The
support of Beaver Coughlan, Ian Oliver and Stewart Finnamore. The Avenger
has been reassembled in Halifax and is now on public display. Her restoration
has impressed everyone that views her. For more information on the Avenger's
transport and reassembly at ACAM see the Fall 2005 and Winter 2006 issue of
our newsletter.
The Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum would like to thank the following
organizations for their contributions:
-New Brunswick Forest Protection Limited
-The Aircraft Maintenance School, Moncton Campus, NB Community College
-J.D. Irving Woodlands Division
-Caldwell and Ross Construction
-Glassville Logging Company
-Woodland Aviation
-Charmac Construction
-R.S. Coughlan Transport
A full list of contributors is found in the Winter 2006 issue.
The Museum would also like to thank the dozens of volunteers that have
contributed, in any form, to the recovery and restoration of CF-ZYC.

Nov-Dec 2000 ACAM Newsletter

TBM AVENGER
By Frank MacLoon
Installing the R2600-20 Engine (Frank MacLoon Photos)Work on the TBM
Avenger is progressing at a good pace as an outdoor activity on the ramp at the
Forest Protection Limited (FPL) base in Fredericton. Restoration on the aircraft
itself is carried out as a warm weather activity. Other work, such as that carried
out at the Moncton Aircraft Maintenance School or on small components in
personal workshops, goes on during the winter months.
The summer began with the much-appreciated addition of Clem Crocker, an
experienced Avenger Engineer, to our crew of four.
First priority was to complete the construction of the "shelf" section, which
incorporates the oil cooler and control door and is the base of the aircraft's
equipment bay. A large amount of metal fabrication and riveting was required. At
the same time reconstruction of the other area of extensive damage, the lower
rear fuselage was begun in earnest.
The next step was to move the now completed R2600-20 engine from the
Moncton School. Here we owe our thanks to Gordon Nielson and his students for
undertaking the immense task of building a complete engine from an assortment
of parts acquired around the country including from several crash sites.
The engine, weighing some 2850 lbs, was moved from Moncton early in July
thanks to a trailer supplied by Heinz Limpert of Canadian Helicopters. Installation
was carried out soon after followed by the remaining engine attachments and
accessories. Following this the engine cowlings were fitted and, while many more
days of effort were required to fit components, fabricate metal, and rivet on the
forward area, the old TBM was beginning to take on a new appearance.

Installing the engine.

During the summer a damaged bomb tank, complete with doors, was acquired
which, on repair, will allow the aircraft to be accurately completed in it's Air
Tanker configuration A trip to the 1973 TBM crash site near Sussex by John
Mossman, Don Henry and Gord Nielson recovered a complete, but badly bent,
propeller which has produced a number of small parts needed to complete our
example. This is the same site from which an engine was recovered in 1998.
Next came the installation of the vertical fin and stabilizers on which any needed
repairs had already been completed.
The lower rear fuselage required removal and replacement of many damaged
structural sections and the fabrication of new formers and stringers. This required
many weeks of work and reskinning was able to begin in September.
Next year will see the beginning of work on the fuselage interior fittings along
with the reconstruction of the wings.

Jan-Feb 2001 ACAM Newsletter

Moving into Phase 3 of our plan, a new 20' x 23' enclosed workshop area has
been established. This area will allow members to have a work area that is
secure from the public. As the area is enclosed, we will be able to build future
exhibits and displays here with out having to worry about dust in the hanger. The
entire enclosure has been designed and constructed in such a way that it will be
easily removed when the Avenger arrives in 2002. Thanks to Dave Amero and
the folks at Pierceys for helping us out with building materials for the project.

May 2001 ACAM Newsletter

Avenger: With nice weather now upon us the Avenger restoration team in New
Brunswick is working back up to full speed. The team is working on Mondays and
Fridays. Some members are working many other days as well. The team has
arranged for a trailer for the summer to move the wings back and forth between
work sights and are making great progress. Crew Chief Frank MacLoon will have
an Avenger Report in a later issue. The report will also include info about the
Avenger phase out with Forest Protection Limited.

July/August 2001 ACAM Newsletter

Avenger: The “Fredericton Wing” has been concentrating on the major
reconstruction of the lower section of the rear fuselage. This is now virtually
completed, with the structural work finished, the floor fitted and installed, the non-
slip floor coating being applied and the interior painted. Other work has also been
carried out on remaining areas of fuselage damage along with some needed
repair work in the cockpit area. The tail wheel gear has been dismantled, freed,
and painted and will shortly be fully reassembled. Work on paint removal on the
main gear is 90% complete and the unit will shortly be painted and the cover
panels painted and reinstalled. Work through the winter was concentrated on
fabricating, restoring and assembling instrument panels and other cockpit items
for installation when the fuselage is ready.
To date over 6,800 hours have been committed to the project since it’s beginning
in 1996. Weekly hours are running in excess of 65 - 75 with much credit to Clem
Crocker who is at the project most days in the week. His technical skill and
interest are a major factor in our progress.
We are also fortunate in receiving the support of Debbie Bates owner of
Feminine Touch - Truck Lettering. She has supplied excellent, professional signs
for identification on the sides of the aircraft and has offered to assist by supplying
lettering for the cockpit instrument panels.

September/October 2001 ACAM Newsletter

December 2001/January 2002 ACAM
Newsletter
May/June 2002 ACAM Newsletter
 September/October 2002 ACAM Newsletter

The ACAM Avenger FZYC at FPL, 2002. [Steve Tournay]

November/December 2002 ACAM Newsletter
May/June 2003 ACAM Newsletter
September/October 2003 ACAM Newsletter
March/April 2004 ACAM Newsletter
July/August 2004 ACAM Newsletter
October/November ACAM Newsletter
Summer 2005 ACAM Newsletter
Figure 1. Part of page 14 of the Summer 2005 ACAM newsletter.
Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum, Bedford,
NS
2005-Present
Fall 2005 ACAM Newsletter
Winter 2006 ACAM Newsletter
TBM #20 FZYC display of the restoration and retrieval, 2 August 1999, at ACAM, Halifax,
NS.