Editor's Note: The Federal Aviation
Administration has just issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive
affecting all Frakes Aviation (Gulfstream American) Model G-73
(Mallard) and G-73T (Turbine Mallard) aircraft. This AD is in
response to the December 19 downing of a Chalks Ocean Airways
Mallard, which resulted in the loss of 20 people onboard when the
seaplane's right wing separated after takeoff from Miami Beach,
FL.
This AD calls for the immediate inspection of the front and
rear wing spars of the affected aircraft, including the removal of
any previous repairs made, to check for cracking of the spars.
Although a final ruling has not been made by the NTSB, it is
strongly believed such cracks caused the structural failure of the
Chalks aircraft.
The unedited text of the Emergency AD is below.
DATE: December 30, 2005
AD #: 2006-01-51
Emergency airworthiness directive (AD) 2006-01-51 is sent to all
owners and operators of Frakes Aviation (Gulfstream American) Model
G-73 (Mallard) series airplanes, and Model G-73 airplanes that have
been converted to have turbine engines. These airplanes were
originally manufactured by Grumman.
Background
On December 19, 2005, the right wing of a Frakes Aviation
(Gulfstream American) Model G-73 (Mallard) airplane separated from
the fuselage on takeoff, which resulted in the airplane impacting
the water near Miami Beach, Florida. The wing separated between the
fuselage attachment and the engine attachment. This twin-engine
airplane was manufactured in 1947. This particular airplane was
operated in passenger service and in a salt-water environment. The
airplane had accumulated over 31,000 total flight hours and over
39,000 total flight cycles. Although the cause of this accident has
not yet been determined by the National Transportation Safety Board
(NTSB), preliminary indications from the investigation reveal
occurrences of fatigue cracking of a wing spar, skin cracking, and
a broken z-stringer. The loss of the lower skin capability, or the
spar and stringer capability, will likely lead to wing failure.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in structural
failure of the wing and loss of control of the airplane.
FAA’s Determination and Requirements of this
AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other
airplanes of this same type design. Therefore, we are issuing this
AD to prevent structural failure of the wing and loss of control of
the airplane. This AD requires (1) a detailed visual inspection to
detect repairs, cracking, or corrosion of the wings from wing
station (WS) 77L to WS 77R, front spar to rear (main) spar; (2)
removal of repairs, if found, to allow for inspection of the wing
structure underneath the repairs; (3) removal of sealant from the
interior of the wet bays to allow for inspection of the skins,
stringers, and both spars; and (4) repair of any crack or
corrosion. The inspection and repair are required to be done in
accordance with a method approved by the FAA. This AD also requires
sending the inspection results (both positive and negative) to the
FAA.
Additional Source of Service Information
Operators should note that Frakes Aviation may be contacted as a
source of preliminary service information as follows: Frakes
Aviation, Cleburne Airport, Route 3, Box 229-B, Cleburne, TX 76031;
telephone (817) 556-0700.
Interim Action
This AD is considered to be interim action. The inspection
reports that are required by this AD will enable the FAA to obtain
better insight into the nature, cause, and extent of the cracking,
and eventually to develop final action to address the unsafe
condition. Frakes Aviation may be contacted as a source of
preliminary service information as follows: Frakes Aviation,
Cleburne Airport, Route 3, Box 229-B, Cleburne, TX 76031; telephone
(817) 556-0700.
Frakes Aviation has advised the FAA that it is developing
special detailed (i.e., nondestructive testing) inspection
procedures that are expected to be available within 45 days. You
may choose to comply with the interim action required by this AD if
you must fly before the special detailed inspection becomes
available. Otherwise, you may wait for the service information that
is being developed by Frakes Aviation. Once that service
information is available and approved, we anticipate superseding
this AD to require compliance with that information.
Examining the Docket
You may examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet
at http://dms.dot.gov (on
the next business day after we have issued the AD), or in person at
the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation,
400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This docket number is
FAA-2005-23440; the directorate identifier for this docket is
2005-NM-256-AD.
Authority for this Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA’s
authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section
106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle
VII, Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the
Agency’s authority. We are issuing this rulemaking under the
authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section
44701, “General requirements.” Under that section,
Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil
aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices,
methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for
safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely
to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking
action.
Determination of Rule’s Effective
Date
This emergency AD is issued under 49 U.S.C. Section 44701
according to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
and is effective immediately upon receipt.
Effective Date
(a) Emergency airworthiness directive (AD) 2006-01-51, issued on
December 30, 2005, is
effective immediately upon receipt.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all Frakes Aviation (Gulfstream American)
Model G-73 (Mallard) series airplanes; and Model G-73 airplanes
that have been converted to have turbine engines; certificated in
any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report indicating that the right wing
of a Frakes Aviation (Gulfstream American) Model G-73 (Mallard)
airplane separated from the fuselage on takeoff, which resulted in
the airplane impacting the water near Miami Beach, Florida.
Although the cause of this accident has not yet been determined by
the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), preliminary
indications from the investigation reveal occurrences of fatigue
cracking of a wing spar, skin cracking, and a broken z-stringer.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in structural
failure of the wing and loss of control of the airplane.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Inspection
(f) Before further flight, perform a detailed visual inspection
to detect repairs, cracking, or corrosion of the wings from wing
station (WS) 77L to WS 77R, front spar to rear (main) spar; remove
any repair that is found, to allow for inspection of the wing
structure underneath the repairs; and remove the sealant from the
interior of the wet bays to allow for inspection of the skins,
stringers, and both spars. Perform the inspection in accordance
with a method approved by the Manager, Airplane Certification
Office (ACO), ASW-150, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA.
Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed visual inspection
is: “An intensive examination of a specific item,
installation, or assembly to detect damage, failure, or
irregularity. Available lighting is normally supplemented with a
direct source of good lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate.
Inspection aids such as mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be
necessary. Surface cleaning and elaborate procedures may be
required.”
Reporting
(g) Before further flight, submit a report of the findings (both
positive and negative) of the inspection required by paragraph (f)
of this AD to Robert A. Romero, Aerospace Engineer, ACO, ASW-150,
Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA; 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth,
Texas 76137-4298; fax (817) 222-5960. The report must include the
inspection results, a description of any discrepancies found, the
airplane serial number, and the number of total flight cycles and
flight hours on the airplane. Under the provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection
requirements contained in this AD and has assigned OMB Control
Number 2120-0056.
Repair
(h) If any cracking or corrosion is found during the inspection
required by paragraph (f) of this AD, repair before further flight,
in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, ACO, ASW-150,
Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA.
Special Flight Permit
(i) Special flight permits, as described in Section 21.197
(“Special flight permits”) and Section 21.199
(“Issue of special flight permits”) of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199), may be issued to
operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this
AD can be accomplished but concurrence by the Manager, ACO,
ASW-150, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, is required prior to issuance
of the special flight permit.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(j)(1) The Manager, ACO, ASW-150, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA,
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with § 39.19
on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the appropriate
principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards Certificate Holding
District Office.
Contact Information
(k) For technical information about this AD, contact: Robert A.
Romero, Aerospace Engineer, ACO, ASW-150, Rotorcraft Directorate,
FAA, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76137-4298;
telephone (817) 222-5102; fax (817) 222-5960; or Hung V. Nguyen,
Aerospace Engineer, ACO, ASW-150, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601
Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76137-4298; telephone (817)
222-5155; fax (817) 222-5960. Issued in Renton, Washington, on
December 30, 2005.