Corrosion concerns ground Ju-Air's remaining Ju 52s

Swiss regulators have grounded two remaining Junkers Ju 52s operated by Ju-Air over airworthiness concerns, three months after a fatal accident involving another of its aircraft. The Swiss civil aviation office has ordered the certificates of airworthiness for the tri-motored aircraft to be surrendered by 21 November. None of the 20 occupants on board a Ju-Air Ju 52 survived when, during a 4 August flight, the aircraft’s nose dropped as it entered a left turn, and it spiralled vertically into terrain. Swiss accident investigation authority SUST has yet to determine the cause of the crash, but inspection of the wreckage has revealed areas of concern regarding the aircraft’s structural condition. It stresses that the deficiencies are “not related” to the accident, and there is no evidence of a pre-existing technical problem which might have caused the crash. But it states that Ju-Air’s other two Ju 52s are of similar age to the aircraft lost, and underwent similar operations. “It is to be expected that comparable deficiencies, which could compromise aviation safety, are also present in [these other two aircraft],” adds SUST. Inspection of the HB-HOT debris found “significant corrosion” in spars, hinges, wing components and cabin floor parts. <br/>