Method for determining an orientation of a defect present within a mechanical component (B), comprising the steps: a) applying (S1) ultrasonic signals emitted from various measuring points (MP) to the mechanical component (B), wherein the ultrasonic signals are generated by at least one ultrasonic head which applies an ultrasonic signal to the component (B) at each of the measuring points (MP), wherein an echo ultrasonic signal thereby generated is received temporally offset by said ultrasonic head or a different ultrasonic head in each case; b) calculating an angular characteristic of the received echo ultrasonic signals depending on a sound emission direction between the respective measuring point (MP) and the point (P) to be investigated, wherein the angular characteristic gives a dependency of the signal amplitude on the sound emission direction; c) wherein (S3), depending on a detected signal propagation time between the time point of emission of the ultrasonic signal and the time point of reception of the reflected echo ultrasonic signal for each measuring point (MP), a distance (d) between the measuring point (MP) and the points (P) under investigation is calculated and the echo ultrasonic signals from the points (P) under investigation and received temporally offset at the different measuring points (MP) are added together in phase for the analysis thereof. d) wherein the phase characteristic is analysed to statistically determine the orientation of the defect, wherein a mean value or a median value is calculated, which indicates an angle of the defect, and wherein a standard deviation and/or a variance are calculated, which gives an angular range. a) applying (S1) ultrasonic signals emitted from various measuring points (MP) to the mechanical component (B), wherein the ultrasonic signals are generated by at least one ultrasonic head which applies an ultrasonic signal to the component (B) at each of the measuring points (MP), wherein an echo ultrasonic signal thereby generated is received temporally offset by said ultrasonic head or a different ultrasonic head in each case; b) calculating an angular characteristic of the received echo ultrasonic signals depending on a sound emission direction between the respective measuring point (MP) and the point (P) to be investigated, wherein the angular characteristic gives a dependency of the signal amplitude on the sound emission direction; c) wherein (S3), depending on a detected signal propagation time between the time point of emission of the ultrasonic signal and the time point of reception of the reflected echo ultrasonic signal for each measuring point (MP), a distance (d) between the measuring point (MP) and the points (P) under investigation is calculated and the echo ultrasonic signals from the points (P) under investigation and received temporally offset at the different measuring points (MP) are added together in phase for the analysis thereof. d) wherein the phase characteristic is analysed to statistically determine the orientation of the defect, wherein a mean value or a median value is calculated, which indicates an angle of the defect, and wherein a standard deviation and/or a variance are calculated, which gives an angular range. <EOS>