Investigation Turns To Deep Cracks, Corrosion On Wing Spar

As investigators carefully examine parts of the wing spar recovered from the wreckage of the Chalk's Ocean Airways seaplane that went down Monday after takeoff, NTSB acting chairperson Mark Rosenker said in a news conference nothing audible was recovered from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) installed in the tail of the Grumman G73-T Mallard.

"It is clearly disappointing," said Rosenker. "It is an element that is very helpful in aviation accidents."

The recorder was found intact in the rear of the fuselage recovered from the bottom of the Government Cut shipping channel Wednesday. It was flown to Washington for examination, which investigators had hoped would shed light on the final moments of Chalk's Flight 101.

While the CVR finding is a setback, the aircraft's recovery has allowed investigators to closely examine the separated right wing. As was reported in Aero-News, investigators have found evidence of cracks in both sections of the right wing spar -- and while that's not necessarily a smoking gun, it does give investigators a likely scenario to build upon.

"We're particularly interested in deep cracks and any potential corrosion," said Rosenker, adding "the maintenance records should give us a better picture" as the investigation continues.

Material from the wing spar has also been sent to the NTSB's Washington lab, according to the Associated Press.

All 20 people aboard the seaplane -- two pilots and 18 passengers, many of which were returning home to Bimini following holiday shopping trips -- were killed in the crash. Investigators have recovered 19 bodies.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov