Chalk seaplane NTSB says both wings had craks

Both Wings Cracked in Miami Beach Seaplane Crash, NTSB
Report Says

Monday, January 09, 2006



MIAMI - The seaplane that crashed off Miami Beach last
month, killing all 20 people aboard, had fatigue cracks in
both wings, a preliminary federal report said Monday.

The right wing of the Chalk's Ocean Airways plane separated
from the fuselage shortly before the Dec. 19 crash, and
investigators had earlier found cracks on the right wing's
support beam. But the new report by the National
Transportation Safety Board on Monday revealed that the left
wing had fatigue cracks as well.

The 58-year-old, G-73 Turbine Mallard plummeted into the
ocean minutes after taking off for the Bahamas.

The NTSB's final report will be completed later this year,
NTSB spokesman Paul Schlamm said.

After the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration
grounded all G-73 seaplanes until they could be inspected.
Chalk's was the only commercial operator of the planes.

The aircraft was built in 1947 as a Grumman Mallard. In
1979, it was modified to increase seating capacity from 10
to 17 passengers, and to replace the original engines.
Chalk's began using the planes the following year,
investigators said.

A message left after business hours Monday for Chalk's
general manager, Roger Nair, was not immediately returned.