Real Pilot Story: Pressure Over The Atlantic

Kerry McCauley, an international ferry pilot, now with over 30 years of experience, was flying over the North Atlantic to Paris in a new F33 Bonanza when he discovered an issue with his auxiliary fuel tank. The problem? No ram air-the fuel wasn't moving. The solution? Pressurize the tank via lung power. For eight straight hours McCauley was alone, over the ocean, in a single engine airplane, with only his will keeping him aloft and alive.
Read more flying stories from Kerry McCauley in his book “Ferry Pilot: Nine Lives Over the North Atlantic”: kerrymccauley.com
Apply credit to your ASI transcript for watching this video: bit.ly/RPSOverAtlanticCert
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[@sabanin]

I wonder if it would have been possible to stick the tube out the window and try to pressurize it with ram outside air?

[@jasonmiller5956]

My thought too, might have been cold but less fumes and hyper ventilating. Amazing story, not sure I would have made it successfully like him!

[@Simon_B74]

That was my thought too. I don’t believe it’s a pressurized plane so that wouldn’t be the problem, and since the previous plan was to effectively stick the tube outside I assume that would generate enough pressure. Seems like a much better solution, I presume he had some reason not to.

[@zombie-yellow]

First thing I thought about too !

[@enthalpy]

Without a pitot tube like thing it might not have had enough pressure.

[@Simon_B74]

@@enthalpy very true, if I were in that plane I probably still would have given that a shot though, seems worth a try if the alternative is to fill the cabin with fumes while hyperventilating at altitude.

[@erehwon777]

“I wasn’t thinking clearly enough to think that if I descended lower I’d think clearer” ... one of the best lines in a great story!

[@JoeFrickinFriday]

hypoxia is insidious like that. See also the audio from Kalitta 66, a Learjet 35 in which the pilot didn't realize his cabin had depressurized and he was suffering from hypoxia: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXrUiJSilKqgeMk

[@michaeldemanche9640]

@@JoeFrickinFriday Huffing gas fumes all night probably didn't help either.

[@andysedgley]

"After blowing into that hose all night and with the airports closed I realised I was going to have to suck it up". No that's precisely what you DON'T want to do! 😂

[@mhern57]

@@JoeFrickinFriday Just tuned into the Katltta 66 audio. Man! What a difference descending can make!

[@nathanmon1593]

At least te pressure was lower at the higher altitude, so he didn't had to blow and build up even more pressure when he would have flown lower haha. Not sure what the sweetspot would be though, maybe lower indeed. We will probably never know, anyway, glad he made it.

[@nicholasbutler153]

These aren't rough, amateur, iMovie edited video, but high-quality, fully professional documentaries. Great job.

[@user-th3jl8mz7y]

Yeah, holy cow, they've got seriously serious with their videos recently. I'm not exactly sure if it's necessary to put this much effort into informational vids that will be watched anyway, it's not like their previous vids were bad or anything but THIS ROCKS. Seems like they've got some good videographers involved now. Lighting and ideas are mind-blowing.

[@kcindc5539]

I had a friend who (after we left the airline) started his own ferry business. He had some hair-raising moments, but always seemed to come through unscathed. Unfortunately his luck ran out in 1999 when he was killed when the single engine plane he was ferrying from the U.S. to Panama crashed in the Guatemalan jungle. RIP Bill

[@Bankable2790]

RIP

[@joecritch143]

Isn’t Guatemala north of Panama?

[@zippoc04]

@@joecritch143 Yes, significantly north of it.

[@heathmichaels7853]

Keith I knew a Pilot Named Bill i use to Fly with Him at Wiggins Airways out of Manchester NH way back in 1997 or 1998? Did your friend Bill happen to fly a Cessna 208 Caravan for Wiggins? I can't remember Bill's last name but if i Hear it i will remember it. He use to do all sorts of Crossings of the Atlantic with single engine aircraft. Wonder if this was the same Bill I knew. We would hang out on the pilot lounge and swamp stories. Funny guy from what I remember. Small world aviation can be. Heath...😳😊✈✈

[@kcindc5539]

@@heathmichaels7853 His name was Bill DuFour and yep he used to do single-engine Atlantic (and at least one failed attempt at a Pacific) crossings in a Caravan or similar. His dad was a commercial pilot but Bill was too much a non-conformist to go the same path his dad did. He was super tall and gangly, with a sharp tongue and a sarcastic sense of humor. I used to love to provoke him just to see him get worked up about a given topic like the economics of adding used 742 on medium stage length routes and other weird crap like that. We’re talking about the same guy, aren’t we? :-)

[@jonathankleinow2073]

(A few years later, while hanging out with his family) "Hey, Uncle Kerry, we wanna go swimming. Can you blow up our ducky floaties--" "NO."

[@DavidSmith-wr6vj]

I had a similar thing happen while i was watching this my tablet was down to 1% i was so worried i would not .make it to the end...

[@a914freak]

Ok that was a good one!

[@GigsVT]

did you try blowing on the charging port?

[@alasdair4161]

@@GigsVT Even just holding your breath helps..

[@istra70]

Switch off the adds ....

[@jaimhaas5170]

yes millenial...we know... we know...

[@mattvaandering]

The actor nailed it at 10:32 with the lip Syncing!

[@Bankable2790]

Lol I’ve never seen this style of editing very good

[@rossaodonovan895]

14:36 Maybe the weathers gonna be good in Ireland, bold strategy cotton.

[@kyleayres6255]

Underrated

[@Connor_Herman]

Excellent production value! Great story and loved the verisimilitude of the period clothing and AOPA magazines. Nice job AOPA, I love watching these!

[@ostapbendervan7874]

Connor Nice word 90's.was the best

[@rogerhargreaves2272]

Yup, I can’t agree with you more on that one. If only he had a bicycle pump.

[@whizbam4920]

That one time I blew my self to safety.

[@thomasmartin7425]

Oh, hey, you just reminded me, i dated this girl in college. She had talent like this.....suffice it to say it could have been an A380 and she would have sucked enough fuel for a lap around the world. She had a gift, my friends.

[@blameyourself4489]

@@thomasmartin7425 Her address please? I mean, it's soon christmas.

[@thomasmartin7425]

@@blameyourself4489 sure. Why should i keep that to myself? Man Code. Gonna need you to sign a medical waiver. Also you'll need someone to drive you home after, and i recommend bed rest and crutches for a few days.

[@blameyourself4489]

@@thomasmartin7425 Ha ha. Funny!

[@richardcranium3417]

@@thomasmartin7425 damn. Crutches.

[@gomphrena-beautifulflower-8043]

I’m not even a pilot (retired RN), but caught myself almost hyperventilating as you told your interesting experience. Beyond grateful that you made it, though any subsequent failure could have spelled your doom; such as your lack of pre-flight adequate rest. I wish for you safe skies always, and thank you for sharing your experience. Potential pilots/students will especially soak up these accident/potential accidents that AOPA so aptly presents to the aviation community.

[@JeaneGenie]

Yep, connect it up with duct tape for the North Atlantic crossing, what could possibly go wrong ??

[@sblur204]

hindsight is 20/20

[@cefb8923]

@@sblur204 That's not hindsight, it's laziness and risky. It's a half ass approach and it compromises safety because you're relying on ducktape.. I'm an aircraft mechanic, besides speed tape used for aerodynamic temp fixes you really think they fix planes with duct tape lol.

[@sblur204]

@@cefb8923 i totally agree with you lol, im saying that its easy to say that in hindsight but this guy was so complacent with his new plane and that he wanted to get going quickly that he quite easily overlooked the consequences of using duct tape

[@HarryBalzak]

@@sblur204 nah. the duct tape is insanity. only a fool would trust it.

[@Snarf_Le_Wombat]

​@@sblur204this guys attitude will get him and others killed, you would think this whole experience would humble him into reality based on the absolute sheer incompetence and ignorance.. .but it's obvious little has changed.

[@ncc74656m]

Good idea for a future fix for ferry pilots is a small hand pump with an adapter that'll hook up to the tank line. Combined with a check valve, you'd be set for any contingency with that kind of fuel system for not much weight.

[@rkemp101]

Incredible. Good thinking lol😊

[@Bankable2790]

This whole set up is so questionable. Like a ram j pump just kind of screwed on/ duct taped onto it? I mean that is super questionable

[@dtm6582]

I was watching this and thinking about the little $40 hand pump that I use to inflate my kayak. And how one of the adapters would have fit that hose perfectly.

[@OmnipotentEnt]

I'm pretty sure something like that exists! I've seen a video on another channel of a fuel emergency over the ocean and they had to use a pump to get fuel into the tanks. Although it could have quite possibly been jerry-rigged lol

[@rmatthews8161]

I bet this guy has gotten a hand pump every year for Christmas since then.....

[@kyleconger6544]

This guy taught me how to skydive! So cool to see him on here. Going to his skydiving place in Minnesota was one the reasons I became a pilot.

[@teresabenson3385]

I was his passenger on a tandem last month, and had no idea he was so accomplished and famous! Now I feel extra bad for puking on him on the way down. 🤢🤮

[@DrPede]

That's awesome. Is he out of Twin Cities Skydiving in Baldwin, WI?

[@jtveg]

10:31 It was very clever how you did this particular lip synched voice over. Glad to see you made it.

[@jhopkins213]

That reminded me of "Drunk History"

[@lindabiden2115]

Wow! Amazing! I just finished his book "FERRY PILOT" and literally couldn't put it down! It's filled with a ton of stories just as amazing as this one. How anyone could have survived so many close calls is truly a testimony to Kerry's skills as a pilot. I know what everyone's getting for Christmas this year! Thanks for sharing your incredible stories Kerry!

[@aviation3530]

"Keep swinging" that can apply to just about every difficult situation and, not always easy to remember when you're in the weeds. Great life lessons. Thanks

[@johnfisher747]

He’s talking about the reliability bathtub curve for machines. New machines follow a U shaped reliability curve where all these new components that make up the system have to bed in. Some parts fail early on and are replaced under warranty. After a while the system beds in and is reliable for an extended time. Then components fail by wearing out and the system reverts to being unreliable.

[@workingguy6666]

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

[@TomasRozar]

Legend has it, Kerry is still blowing into that tube.

[@TakingOff]

Another great video. THanks Kerry for telling the story and thanks AOPA Air Safety for making it.

[@michaelrivera6989]

Thanks for the story and thank you AOPA.

[@avfan967]

One of the most fascinating personal stories I can recall. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@cobrellie]

What a great story … love the honesty, no BS … so glad that you’re here to tell your story

[@donktonk1]

Wow what an incredible story. As a student pilot I really appreciate this videos. Glad you made it back safe.

[@whoever6458]

Glad you made it, man. What an intense story.

[@stanbest3743]

Congratulations on being here to tell the story. Life must have felt pretty good that day in Paris. I could imagine myself being sucked in by that scenario, of course the duct tape waits until you are out over the ocean before letting go. It will always hang on when you are within gliding distance of an airstrip.

[@gskayak]

After that trip he probably spent that extra day in Paris sleeping! LOL

[@shoop4040]

I remember watching a show on the discovery channel a few years ago- This guy was one of the pilots they followed doing his ferry flights -

[@nicowilson8032]

Fantastic video, really well made. And very informative, thank you!

[@conytastellano]

Great production value and a great story. Awesome job 👍🏼

[@stephengrimmer35]

@2:24 it's a shame the mechanic didn't have the same ability to think outside of the box as you did. Simply replace the inspection cover with a temporary blanking plate and drill through that. And given the lack of redundancy, I would have thought a (manual or electric) transfer pump as a back-up would be mandatory.

[@mamoruisamu1]

Great story and lessons learned. Thanks for sharing!

[@arizonaaviator1903]

Nice video! When can we expect more accident case studies? I love watching those.

[@nancyaustin9516]

Even for a non-pilot this is great stuff--very interesting and well done!

[@alexanderkulikov4593]

A pilot worthy of respect for the will to live and ingenuity in his conditions! Sincerely from Russia!

[@Diosesdepapel]

Great story , i am glad you made it through !!

[@alvarvillalongamarch3894]

As a veteran pilot,I can ascertain that what this man did is completely brilliant,unique.Thank God he made it safely.Everytime I‘m over the Atlantic on an airliner and we relay messages to Atc from these single engine ferry pilots,I take my hat off to their lone courage.Best regards from Spain,and safe flights.

[@GabrielJMuller]

Great job, as always!

[@tapd0g182]

Best channel on KZbin!- Liam Wilkerson, drummer, x plane enthusiast, scared of heights

[@blameyourself4489]

Wow! Appreciate this upload. Learned a lot.

[@SuperPirate100]

Hell of a story, pleased you are able to make it

[@josephjolly1936]

Thanks for the video, you are a wonderful person, glad everything went ok. You are honest man. 👍✈️

[@deenasmusicbox]

This was awesome, job well done!

[@user-th3jl8mz7y]

Love it, absolutely impressive shooting and light, this is nutz and story is amazing. Guess, thanks @Kerry McCauley for making it to Paris and telling us the story!

[@connorbest1582]

Go read his book. It's filled with stories like this one.'

[@jamesm3471]

I just love this channel.

[@keng7758]

Awesome story! Glad he made it!

[@allangillis9159]

That was AWESOME! Thank you!!!

[@tobiassander3995]

Good story, glad you made it.

[@nitehawk86]

3:41 Nice. :) Also very 90s music and jacket. Well done on the production.

[@billywymarra682]

Great video and learning

[@boeingdriver29]

I don’t know how you do it. Single engine operations over oceans takes a special kind of bravery and mindset. As a retired B737/767/747 captain I know I don’t have what it takes, hell I get a little edgy at the limits of a 3 hour ETOPS sector over water in a twin engine jet. Glad you survived and all the best.

[@KerryDMcCauley]

It helps if you're not very bright!

[@marshie1337]

awesome story, i could never do that job..

[@dougbader1925]

What a great story, well told.

[@dtanji]

Hearing you tell the story is even better than reading it in your book. Although reading your book I could hear your voice in my head! Great video Kerry!

[@tuco0x]

Even if the J-tube was secure I'd still want a backup system. A small pressure tank that can be filled by a manual bicycle or 12V air pump is not much to carry along, I'd think.

[@buzzlesworth54]

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Put a Schrader valve on the the tank or just stick a pool toy inflator tip into the hose and this poor guy would have been good to go. After two hours of this I would have been hammering my leatherman through the skin of the aircraft to stick the hose into the air stream.

[@MrGoogelaar]

Mike Leone Why such an important system does not have any backup does not make any sense and is an invitation for disaster.

[@johnbeach7985]

inspirational as hell. and a great cautionary tale.

[@achiltsompanos447]

Awesome story! Hats off to you sir.

[@YuriShubenin]

Great story, what a strong personality this guy has!

[@RaspySquares]

I like the work put into this episode.

[@MovieMakingMan]

Instead of using a makeshift tube duct taped to the bottom of the aircraft I would have used a $20 tire inflator. They are so lightweight I would have at least a couple of spares onboard. Because a tire inflator could ‘pressurize’ the ferry tank at a much higher pressurization than blowing in a tube the tire inflator would only require occasional use. You’d think this would be SOP for long flights using ferry tanks. I love duct tape as much as other guys but I wouldn’t trust my life to it. Kerry McCauley is super pilot and great storyteller! Well done Kerry!

[@Mike-jq9jo]

Great video and great advice!

[@bradf3963]

Flying over the Atlantic wishing for a DC powered tire pump from Santa...man, that was some lung power. Being asthmatic, I'd have been in the drink.

[@paulmakinson1965]

The conclusion made me think of a Skipper friend of mine who ferries new sailing boats from the factory to the clients. New does not mean without nasty surprises, especially when you hit a storm in the bay of Biscay.

[@kentuckyblugrass]

Excellent interview & video👊🙏

[@richardvincent2425]

Great story!!

[@andrewmiller4573]

Great story! Not a pilot, but I love aviation! I'm definitely subscribing to this channel!

[@derp195]

Couldn't stop laughing at the actor miserably blowing into the hose.

[@davidclaro152]

Great video. I’m surprised that a movie wasn’t made from this. Thank you very much!

[@finnnation]

Awesome story. Great job!

[@brandonthomas303]

Awesome story!

[@yasirmohammedali]

Hello: thanks for sharing your story

[@fatsolutions]

Brilliant story!

[@mikewysko2268]

Stay calm and work it out. Well done Sir.

[@pixurguy4915]

I had just been hired by a major airline and one of my instructors ran a ferry business. When he found out I was from a civil aviation background he asked if I was interested in doing some ferry work for him. I politely declined. The ocean is too big to drink and I don't swim that well. Many years later I was flying to Europe and relaying radio calls from a Cessna 172 to Moncton Center (eastern Canada). He was getting into ice and was trying to find an airport to land at. After about 30 minutes we ran out of radio range and another airliner was relaying for the Cessna. A week later on my way back to Europe I asked Moncton what happened to the Cessna. Center told me he managed to get to a grass strip used by companies that fly in fisherman. He spent a week there. On another trip we heard a single engine Cessna over the Altlantic that was picking up ice and he was trying to descend to get out of the ice. Glad I skipped the ferry business.

[@dustinandtarynwolfe5540]

I nominate this man for the guiness book of world record holder for longest time as a human fuel pump.

[@haiwatigere6202]

Thank you I enjoyed that

[@jjsifo1]

Man that was one if not the best aviation story i have ever read. Kudos to you !!

[@connorbest1582]

If you think that story was great you should read his book Ferry pilot! Best aviation memoir I've ever read!

[@jjsifo1]

@@connorbest1582 Thanks I'll look it up!

[@jjsifo1]

@@connorbest1582 Found it ,Kindle.Check "Ocean Flying" read it about 30 years ago,if you can find it.

[@almarasco8088]

Great story

[@tonyduncan9852]

What a story! Apart from 'never give up', perhaps 'always drill that hole' is the *_true_* take-away. Cheers.

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

When in doubt... drill it out!

[@CG-kf5vh]

Great story. Thanks.

[@manwinkler]

Kerry McCauley’s on his ferry flights are great reading!

[@wb1065]

As a longtime pilot who’s heard everything. I must say this story was absolutely riveting! I could listen to this guy’s stories all night 👍

[@gregloch6743]

Great Story! Kerry is hardcore!

[@andycopland3179]

What a great story.

[@finnagler107]

17:30 "knew I just had to suck it up" ......nooooooo don't do that!

[@whathasxgottodowithit3919.]

Good job

[@Turbojets_Channel]

absolutely fantastic story

[@katien1684]

You are incredible!! I haven't finished with the video.. your not going to land in irland had to write this..on edge of my seat..so back to video

[@EchoKilo]

Amazing story, I need the book now.

[@davidwheatcroft2797]

Well done! CAVU skies to you and all aviators.

[@MrOramato]

Thank You for your testimony; a lot of guys would go to their grave having never told another sole.

[@rolandogarza7482]

This may be the best safety video yet.

[@vikramgupta2326]

Great video.

[@justadroid]

wow, what a story!

[@adriancarphabet5106]

Great story. Some things that popped in to my head listening to this. J tube could get clogged by inadvertent icing or debris and the need for a backup electric pump powered by 12V/USB outlet or battery powered. Also, if they were able to connect the tube to an overhead vent if it would create enough pressure…

[@Jordan.T.Lindholm]

Glad your alive sir. I can't even remember how many pilots have died because they didn't want to declare an emergency and when they finally did..... it was already to late. To any pilot, military, commercial or simply private recreational Never be afraid to declare an emergency. Better to be embarrassed in your cockpit than dead in your coffin. Read that last line agian!! God Bless

[@johnr5252]

Why would a pilot ever be ‘afraid’ to declare an emergency? Arrogance? Makes no sense, but it does seem to be a recurring theme in many of these crash stories. Arrogant, know it all pilots.

[@danielorellana6983]

Most humble pilot I ever seen..

[@flymachine]

This is why I long to be a ferry pilot - and this is what makes true aviators, stick and rudder problem solving, not just A to B systems operators. Reminds me of that cartoon where Tom cat blows frantically into his holee parachute to keep ‘flying’

[@neilmurgatroyd3197]

Thanks, well told, good lessons. Didn't I see you on that ferry pilot series? Either way thanks for a great video Kerry.

[@KerryDMcCauley]

Yes, I was on the show Dangerous Flights. Glad you liked the video, you should check out my book "Ferry Pilot" It's filled with a bunch of stories like this one. www.amazon.com/Ferry-Pilot-Lives-North-Atlantic/dp/1735339016/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ferry+pilot&qid=1607867771&sr=8-1

[@danfonseca563]

This is one hell of a pilot a whole lot of experience up there