Flying Fortress (B17)
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Total 13200; Flight Crew Type 1200
Situational Awareness; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Airspace Violation All Types
Flight Crew Exited Penetrated Airspace; General Maintenance Action
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Aircraft
I departed in a B-17 for a local 15 minute media flight accompanied by my co-pilot. Charts and equipment on board and in use included a Garmin 430; and 396; current Sectional Chart and a local area TCA Chart. As the airplane climbed on runway heading; I executed a climbing turn to the North. Just then I then detected a change in sound in a power plant and rolled the airplane wings level. While scanning the instrument panel for abnormal indications I asked the co-pilot if he had heard any unusual noise. The co-pilot said no; so I again rolled right and continued my turn to the East. It was then the Tower advised us that we clipped the edge of the adjacent Class B although I didn't believe my momentary northerly heading placed me that far out and that I was still below the 1;800 foot shelf; at 1;500 feet. I did not declare an emergency but continued monitoring the engines and instruments. We were back on the ground in 15 minutes as planned; and the awaiting Crew Chief advised me to shut down. It was then discovered we had completely lost the exhaust stack on the Number 3 cylinder of Number 4 engine; and the cowl flap was burned.
A B-17 Flying Fortress flight crew on a media flight may have briefly entered the local area Class B while investigating an aurally perceived power plant anomaly. After landing they determined an exhaust stack from the Number 4 engine had departed the airframe.