DC6 CARGO ACFT FLOWN WITHOUT REQUIRED FE.

Narrative

DC-6A FLT STARTED AT PANC; THEN ON TO PAFA; PABR-PASC; THEN TO PALE WHERE FE FELL OUT OF BACK CARGO DOOR. FE FLOWN TO PAFA. CAPT AND FO FLEW ACR X FLT FROM PALE TO PANC WITHOUT ANY FE ON BOARD. FLT TIME APPROX 2 1/2 HRS. FACTORS THAT FORCED THIS DECISION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1) TEMP AT PALE APPROX -30 TO -40 DEGS F; WIND SLIGHT; BUT CONTRIBUTING TO A WIND CHILL OF APPROX -50 TO -60 DEGS F. IF THE PLANE SAT FOR MORE THAN 1 HR (EVEN WITH ENG DOUGHNUTS INSTALLED) IT WOULD NOT START. 2) COMPANY DOES NOT KEEP A MECH OR HEATERS AT THE STATION. 3) COMPANY TOLD FLC VIA CAPT TO RETURN ACFT TO PANC WITHOUT FE. 4) ALL REVENUE CARGO REMOVED. 5) CAPT; IN ADDITION TO HIS DUTIES; PERFORMED THE DUTIES OF THE FE. 6) FO FLEW TKOF AND SOME ENRTE PORTIONS IN ADDITION TO HIS NORMAL DUTIES. NIGHT FLT IN OCCASIONAL IFR CONDITIONS. THE FLT WAS CONDUCTED WITHOUT ANY PROBS. DUE TO THE LACK OF AN FE; THERMAL STRESS DURING THE ENTIRE DAY; LONG UNLIMITED DUTY DAY; LONG FLT TIME; NIGHT CONDITIONS; OCCASIONALLY IN IFR CONDITIONS; MULTIPLE TKOFS AND LNDGS; THIS FO IS NOT 100% CONVINCED THAT IF THERE WERE MULTIPLE SYS PROBS THAT WE COULD HAVE COPED WITH IT. CAPT VERY EXPERIENCED IN THE DC-6A/B; FO NEW TO PART 121 OPS. AFTER THE FACT; I BELIEVE THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE BOARDED THE REMAINING CREW ON THE OIL COMPANY FACILITIES AND FLOWN THE NECESSARY MECHS; AND HEATERS FROM PANC THE NEXT DAY REGARDLESS OF THE PROBS THE FROZEN AIRPLANE WOULD CAUSE.