The G-73 Turbine Mallard plummeted into the ocean Dec. 19 when its right wing separated from the fuselage minutes after taking off for the Bahamas, killing all 20 on board.
An initial investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board found fatigue cracks along the Chalk’s Ocean Airways plane’s right wing. The NTSB is unlikely to issue its final report for months.
About 25 other Grumman G-73 seaplanes are in operation, FAA officials have said. Chalk’s was the only one to operate the 1940s-era aircraft commercially and had voluntarily grounded its other four planes.
Last week, the FAA sent out a bulletin alerting operators and owners that it would likely issue the inspection order, which covers the Frakes Aviation Gulfstream American G-73 model, originally manufactured by Grumman, as well as other G-73 models with converted turbine engines.
“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 of design,” Friday’s order states.
The FAA mandated detailed visual inspections of the wings, including removal of wing sealant, to detect possible cracking or corrosion, and removal of any repairs to allow for inspection of the original wing structure. It ordered the repair of any cracks or corrosion found.
The directive requires that all repairs and inspections follow FAA-approved methods and that inspection results be sent to the FAA. Owners and operators who must fly their planes may conduct the inspections immediately, or they can wait for Frakes Aviation to provide a detailed inspection procedure, expected in about 45 days, the FAA said.
By LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ, The Associated Press
