2023 Rockwell 690B Runway Excursion at Caracas Airport (YV2707)

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On February 2, 2023, at 17:15 UTC, a Rockwell International 690B twin-engine aircraft, registration YV2707, serial number 11410, and owned by Transporte Aereo Roli C.A., was operating a flight from Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI) to Oscar Machado Zuloaga International Airport (SVCS) in Charallave, Venezuela. The aircraft carried two crew members and 1,900 pounds of fuel, with an estimated route time of 15 minutes. ## Sequence of Events During landing on runway 10 at SVCS, the aircraft began to veer to the left after touchdown and the application of reversers. The crew attempted to correct the course by setting the engine to “flat idle” and the right engine to full reverse, but the aircraft could not be kept on the runway. It crossed a grass area and came to a stop on taxiway A. Both occupants were uninjured, and the aircraft sustained significant damage. ## Aircraft and Crew Status The aircraft was airworthy under a valid certificate of airworthiness (Control No. 014871) issued by the state of registry. The last scheduled maintenance was performed by OMAC No. 666 ELIKATY, Servicios Aéreos C.A., at the Metropolitan Airport (SVMP) in Ocumare del Tuy, Miranda. The pilot in command, age 33, held a valid commercial pilot license and medical certificate from INAC, with 1,100 hours as pilot in command on the type and 2,468 total hours. The first officer, age 27, held a valid commercial pilot license and medical certificate, with 39.4 hours as first officer on the type and 262.1 total hours. ## Meteorological Conditions At the time of the incident, weather at SVCS reported unlimited visibility, a cloud ceiling of 3,700 feet with broken clouds, and northeast trade winds at 15 to 17 km/h. ## Investigation and Damage Findings The investigation, conducted by the Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Board (JIAAC), included crew interviews, documentation requests, and maintenance record reviews. A visual inspection on February 3, 2023, revealed a sudden stop of the left engine with blade assembly torsion, a fractured left engine nose cone, a fractured left main landing gear body, a fractured left brake hydraulic line, and a broken left squad switch. Nose gear components were found 85 meters from the final stop, and main gear parts 125 meters away. The lower fuselage center showed dents and undetermined damage, with tears on the left rear. The left stabilizer leading edge was dented, the spinner was broken, and the left internal flap was dented with a broken flap cable. Functional tests of the hydraulic system for flaps, steering, and brakes found them operational with no leaks. On February 7, 2023, the left engine and propeller were removed, revealing a bent beta tube and bent rod end. Non-destructive testing of the left main landing gear truss found no cracks or tears. Fuselage measurements indicated complete symmetry. ## Safety Recommendations The JIAAC issued preliminary safety recommendations: for the aeronautical community, to plan pre-flight weather conditions effectively and provide crews with updated emergency procedure training; for the aeronautical authority, to evaluate inspecting and calibrating wind direction and intensity equipment at the SVCS control tower to ensure accurate information for landing crews. ## Ongoing Investigation The investigation remains in the analysis phase, with pending activities including expert examination of the left engine to determine damage and identification of hidden fuselage damage. The incident was reported to ICAO’s ADREP system, and the United States, as the state of design and manufacture, was notified. The NTSB responded as the investigating authority for the state of design and manufacture. All times are in UTC (Venezuela is UTC-4).