Tue, Jul 31, 2007
Says FAA Failed To Detect Errors At Chalks Ocean Airways
On Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended
the Federal Aviation Administration take additional steps to verify
the maintenance programs of commercial aircraft operators include
stringent criteria to address recurring or systemic discrepancies,
including, if necessary, further analysis of the discrepancies
through a comprehensive engineering evaluation.
The recommendations -- available in full at the FMI link below
-- stem from the December 19, 2005 downing of a Grumman G73-T Turbo
Mallard operated by Chalks Ocean Airways. The NTSB investigation of that
accident revealed numerous fuel leak discrepancies
involving the accident airplane.
"Minutes from the July 2005 continuing analysis and surveillance
system (CASS) meeting showed that the accident airplane had a fuel
leak from either the left or right wing near the fuel tank six
times during a 5-day period," the NTSB writes. "Also, the minutes
from the September 2005 CASS meeting showed that the accident
airplane had a fuel leak in its right wing dry bay for 3
consecutive days. The repair methods used to address these fuel
leaks involved removing and replacing the sealant on the fuel
tank."
The NTSB states the continued fuel leaks on the right wing "were
repeated indicators of structural damage inside the right wing" --
which should have tipped Chalks employees to the looming structural
failure that later brought the aircraft down in Government Cut,
near Miami, FL. All 20 persons onboard the plane were killed.
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