Bob, Well, I would have thought about 1948, but ??? I can't find a date reference, even tho there are four pages in Frank's book about the 'Seacoupe', including an apparent ERCO press release - before certification. ( Pg 206 - 209)
I copied Page 209 for you and the group. Hope I can paste it here. The Fate opf the Ercoupe on floats (The Seascoupe??) "Seacoupe" from page 209 of Frank Saletri's Book " The Ercoupe, A Touch of Class" " Dale Westfall was the CAA test pilot assigned to fly the Seacoupe. Inorder to ‘get on the step', it was necessary to remove the up elevator restrictions. And, in doing that, the Ercoupe was no longer stall-proof or Spin proof, and it bacame necessary to perform spin tests.(!!) During the first spin, severe buffeting from the floats induced a flutter in the right aelrion which subsequently was torn completely off, rendering a recovery from the spin impossible. Dale then (wisely) slected to bail out, and, thinking that he could walkright through the side window, he tried to do so. He soon realized, howeverthat those windowsare a lot tougher than they look, and he frantically loosened the thumb screws. He was finally able to get the window open, and immediately hit the silk. His chute blossomed just in time.1 Dale has photosof the wreckage showing a shapeless pile of shredded aluninum that ended the career of the Seacoupe for all time.2 1. See page 194. I would assume that the factory Memorandum was not invoked in this situation. 2. Letter from Dave Kenny to Coupe Capers, Vol #6, Number 12, May, 1978." Picture shows the Seacoupe as "951"
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