Posted on 12/21/2005 2:48:53 PM PST by IonImplantGuru
A 1940s-era seaplane that lost a wing during takeoff and crashed within sight of the beach, killing all 20 people aboard, had undetected cracks in its airframe that apparently caused the aircraft to break up, federal investigators said Wednesday.
After the discovery was disclosed, Chalk's Ocean Airways voluntarily grounded its fleet of four planes for inspection. All four planes are the same model as the one that crashed.
The cracks were found in the main support beam of a wing that fell off the seaplane shortly after it took off for the Bahamas on Monday.
As salvage crews and divers worked to haul the wreckage from a channel just off Miami Beach, investigators focused on how the cracks escaped notice by maintenance crews. Authorities also recovered the plane's cockpit voice recorder, which was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington, along with part of the beam.
Mark Rosenker, acting chairman of the NTSB, said the cracking in the 58-year-old seaplane should have been found and repaired, though it would have taken "a very serious" inspection to find it.
If Chalk's officials had known about the cracking in the Grumman G-73T Turbine Mallards "they would have repaired it and we wouldn't be here today. I don't think they knew it," Rosenker said.
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Seems to me I heard somehwere that those WWII sea planes were notorious for blowing up in flight because faulty fuel tanks and lines?
Investigators look over the recovered wreckage of a Chalk's Ocean Airways plane on a barge anchored at the crash scene off the shore off Miami Beach, Fla., Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005. The seaplane crashed Monday en route to Bimini in the Bahamas, killing all 20 people on board. (AP Photo/Chuck Fadely, Pool)
I guess cracks cause other things to happen. -Tom
Ocean rescue personnel witnessed the plane crash, said Miami Beach Fire Chief Floyd Jordan. Smoke billowed from the engines, followed by an explosion that apparently tore one wing off the aircraft and sent it diving into the water, he said.
Wouldn't the wing just break off and fall into the sea?
When an airplane gets to be 58 years old stress cracks may very well show up especially on a seaplane. On takeoffs and landings hitting the waves puts enormous stress on the aircraft.
I am so pissed off...
I flew on a DC3 that was built in 1945 a couple of years ago, it was a blast!
Not to mention corrosion from sea water.
I worked on a fair number of Falcon 20 airplanes.
Mainly refurbs that were built in the late late 60's.
Age is not the determinging factor of worthtness. Anything can be fixed. Microscopic cracks are not undetectable by any means. It is simply a matter if inspections seek out such things or not. Magna flux is an example. I know that the falcons were heavily scrutinized with such testing especially in wing root and cockpit window areas.
I suppose by your own logic you would not ride in a Model A because it is simply too old?
Well, the wing's got fuel in it, and an engine on it that's hot... There's enough there that might cause smoke and fire as it breaks up.
I think that you're thinking of the Martin Mariner. It was literally a flying gas can.
Grumman had a great reputation for building sturdy aircraft. The nickname for the company is the "Gumman Iron Works".
I don't share RunningWolf's condemnation of old airplanes based on age alone. but in all seriousness... you have a lot further to fall if an airplane breaks than if a Model A does.
I have to politely and respectfully call BS on this. Way to general of a statement.
Notice the article says nothing about crack striation, high cycle, low cycle, or pure overstress. This airplane could easily have been damaged by an overstress in a prior flight/landing (between inspections).
It may have pulled a Lockheed Electra (P-3 ish) and broke up due to a failed engine mount (low cycle fatigue).
It could have been corrosion induced.
Aluminum actually gets stronger with age...due to the formation of the precipitate (dempending on alloy and final temper).
Either way, if you can't feel safe flying in a 58 year old product of the Iron Works, don't fly.
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