The US Federal Aviation Administration has ordered wing inspections on all Lockheed C-130A firefighting aircraft after a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation determined that wing cracking caused the fatal crash of a 45 year-old C-130A during a firefighting mission in California on 17 June. As well as the C-130A, the NTSB investigation covers a fatal wing structural failure of a 1944-built Consolidated P4Y-2 Privateer firefighting aircraft, which crashed on 18 July. The aircraft were owned by Hawkins &Powers Aviation and operated for the government Forestry Service. The NTSB says it found fatigue cracks in both aircraft and suspects that inspection techniques are not adequate. The board is investigating whether the events were unique "or a sign of systemic problems with military surplus aircraft now in public use operations". The FAA has also instructed owners to inspect the wings of Lockheed P-3 Neptunes.
Source: Flight International
