An ultrasonic inspection instrument for detecting a crack and performing sizing
in the depth direction of the crack. By a transmitter element array and a receiver
element array included in a common sensor, focus points between focused acoustic
fields are electronically scanned in a range including a location where half the
sum of the transmitting angle of ultrasonic waves to an inspection-target material
and the receiving angle of diffraction echoes from the inspection-target material
is 30 degrees, so that a tip portion of the crack is detected from the received
diffraction echoes. Thus, the detectability of the ultrasonic inspection instrument
for detecting diffraction waves in a subject to be inspected and performing crack
inspection is stabilized and kept high.