Airline Voluntarily Grounds Remaining Aircraft For Inspections

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 12.21.05 1700 EST: Chalk's Ocean Airways has told the FAA the airline is voluntarily grounding its fleet in order to allow inspections of its four remaining Grumman Mallards following the NTSB's discovery of cracks in the main wing spar of the G73 seaplane that went down Monday in Government Cut, FL.

"This was a voluntary move on the part of Chalk's," said FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen to the Miami Herald. "The FAA has not taken any action."

"We want to make sure these planes that my wife and daughter and everybody else's family go on, that they don't have anything going on," added Chalk's owner Jim Confalone.

NTSB investigators found evidence of cracks in the accident aircraft's right wing's spar. That wing separated from the fuselage inboard of the right engine shortly after takeoff Monday afternoon.

NTSB investigators on the scene of Monday's tragic crash of a Chalk's Ocean Airways seaplane off the coast of Miami said Wednesday the Grumman Mallard had cracks in its main wing spar that had likely gone unnoticed for some time -- but stopped just short of saying that was the only reason the aircraft's right wing separated from the airplane just after takeoff.

On Tuesday, crews recovered the separated wing -- with engine and propeller still attached -- from where it had washed ashore. Investigators examined the wing and found evidence of spar cracking.

The discovery of the cracks has once again raised the issue of structure fatigue similar to the 1988 incident involving a 19-year-old Aloha Airlines 737, where fatigue cracking caused the roof of the aircraft to separate from the fuselage over Maui.

Acting NTSB chairman Mark Rosenker stated the Grumman spar cracks should have been found and repaired, although he acknowledged they would not have been discovered by anything short of "a very serious" inspection. He also refused to speculate publicly on what may have led to the cracks on the 56-year-old aircraft.

Had Chalk's Airline known of the cracking, "they would have repaired it and we wouldn't be here today," said Rosenker. "I don't think they knew it."

Chalks did comment Wednesday on the NTSB's report.

Using balloons to float the fuselage to the surface, crews were scheduled to raise the aircraft Wednesday from the 35-foot-deep waters of the Government Cut shipping channel. Once the fuselage is recovered, investigators will focus closely on the spar, searching for additional evidence of cracks. They are also reviewing the aircraft's maintenance records.

The ongoing salvage operation has closed the channel, restricting access to the Port of Miami -- one of the largest cruise and cargo terminals in the country. "We know the impact this is having on the ports and the economy," said Coast Guard spokesman Dana Warr to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

As was reported in Aero-News, the Grumman G73 Turbo Mallard went down in the channel Monday, in a fiery accident that killed all 19 onboard.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov