Incident Overview
On February 25, 2022, at 00:30 UTC, Rutaca Airlines flight operating a Boeing 737-3H4 (registration YV645T) departed from Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI) in Maiquetía, Venezuela. The aircraft was en route to General Manuel Carlos Piar International Airport (SVPR) in Puerto Ordaz. At the time of departure, there were 151 people on board, consisting of six crew members and 144 passengers.
In-Flight Event
During the cruise phase at an altitude of 27,000 feet, the cockpit warning light for low oil pressure on the right engine (Engine No. 2) illuminated. The pilot in command observed that the oil pressure indicator for Engine No. 2 had dropped below 13 PSI. Following procedures outlined in the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH), the captain shut down the affected engine and requested permission from the Maiquetía Area Control Center to return to the departure airport.
Outcome and Investigation
The aircraft landed safely at SVMI without damage, and no injuries were reported among the occupants. Post-incident maintenance inspections by Taller Aeronáutico Mares, S.R.L. included checks of the magnetic particle detectors and operational tests of the oil system, all of which yielded satisfactory results. Investigators noted that while carbon residues were found in the filters—a condition described as normal for this system—this was identified as the probable cause of the failure. No oil leaks or adverse indications on the dashboard were detected during the final validation.