On February 25, 2022, a MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD-81 (registration YV1240) operated by LASER, C.A was involved in an aviation accident near AEROPUERTO INTL. ‘‘SIMON BOLIVAR’’, MAIQUETIA, EDO LA, VE. This summary draws on records from the Venezuelan Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Board (JIAAC Venezuela).
On 25 February 2022, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-81 (MD81) operated by LASER, C.A. received a high-temperature warning in the tail compartment after takeoff from Maiquetía. The crew returned to the airport and landed safely with no injuries or damage.
Incident Overview On 25 February 2022 at 12:00 UTC, aircraft registration YV1240, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-81 (MD81) with serial number 49907, began a takeoff roll from Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI) in Maiquetía, Estado La Guaira, Venezuela. The aircraft was operated by Líneas Aéreas de Servicio Ejecutivo Regional (LASER), C.A. and was on a flight plan to La Chinita International Airport (SVMC) in Maracaibo, Estado Zulia. The aircraft carried 106 people: a pilot, a copilot, five cabin crew members, and 101 passengers. ## Event Description After takeoff and during the initial climb, the flight crew observed that the high-temperature warning light for the rear compartment, also described as the tail cone, illuminated. The pilot in command immediately notified air traffic control, specifically approach control, of the decision to return to Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI). The aircraft landed at SVMI without further incident. All occupants were reported unharmed, and the aircraft was reported to have no damage. ## Aircraft and Operator Details The source describes the aircraft as a land-based twin-engine turbofan transport with a retractable tricycle landing gear. It is stated to have a passenger capacity of 163 and a crew complement of six: pilot, copilot, and four attendants. The aircraft is identified as a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-81 (MD81), serial number 49907, with FAA type certificate A6WE. Its two engines are described as Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 turbofans, each with a maximum thrust of 20,850 lb, located on either side of the rear fuselage. The maximum takeoff weight is stated as 142,000 lb. The aircraft held a certificate of registration, certificate of airworthiness, and radio station certificate issued by the Instituto Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil (INAC), the aeronautical authority of the state of registration. The aircraft was in commercial use. The last preventive and scheduled maintenance services were performed by OMAC-N 475, Líneas Aéreas de Servicio Ejecutivo Regional (LASER), C.A., located at Simón Bolívar International Airport in the LASER Airlines hangar, Maiquetía, Estado Vargas. ## Crew Qualifications The pilot in command held a valid medical certificate and an airline transport pilot license for commercial aircraft, issued by INAC. The pilot’s ratings included instrument flight for MD80 captain, 1,000 hours as pilot in command on the model involved, and 8,650 total hours. The copilot held a valid medical certificate and a commercial pilot license for aircraft, issued by INAC. The copilot’s ratings included instrument flight for MD80 copilot, 300 hours as copilot on the model involved, and 3,600 total hours. ## Weather and Investigation Activities Weather conditions at Simón Bolívar International Airport were reported as winds of 05 kt from 090°, unlimited visibility, and generally good weather throughout the day. The investigation included notification of the event, interviews with the pilot, and collection of crew documentation, including identity documents, licenses, medical certificates, recurrent training and simulator records, logbook copies, and an MD-80 systems course certificate. Documentation obtained from the operator or owner of YV1240 included the certificate of registration, certificate of airworthiness, operator certificate, radio frequency license, acoustic homologation certificate, and insurance policy. Documentation from OMAC N°475 included the OMAC certificate, capability list, and maintenance records for YV1240, including airworthiness directive control, scheduled maintenance compliance, component control, maintenance order, malfunction and operational failure reports with corrective actions, and a maintenance conformity certificate. Full custody transfer was documented as DGOAST/2022/N°0008. ## Maintenance Inspection During an inspection to validate corrective maintenance actions related to the high-temperature warning in the rear compartment, the external condition of the aircraft structure was inspected visually and photographically. Procedures included applying the fault-finding process according to the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM), holding maintenance work sessions to determine the root cause, reviewing the AMM sections for Cooling Turbine Maintenance Practices and Tail Compartment Overheat Sensor Maintenance Practices, and verifying the repair slips. ## Preventive Measure Based on preliminary findings and evidence, the Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Board (JIAAC) issued a preventive measure to the operator LASER, S.A. The maintenance management was directed to perform inspections on the rest of the fleet to verify that there were no leaks from the air cycle machine or heat exchanger on this aircraft model, in order to mitigate similar events. The source states that the investigation was closed with this report. All times are given in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), with Venezuela’s UTC offset noted as -4:00 hours.
