What happened
On April 30, 2025, at 17:10 UTC, a private Cessna 172K, registration YV2826, was conducting a flight from Santa Elena de Uairén to the Parkupik indigenous community in Bolívar State. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and three passengers.
The flight proceeded normally until the aircraft was approximately 30 nautical miles from its destination. At this point, the pilot noticed fluctuations in the engine temperature indicator. Following established emergency procedures outlined in the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH), the pilot checked the oil levels and other engine parameters. When these checks did not resolve the issue, the pilot decided to execute an emergency landing near the guard post of the Parate عدمtepuy National Park.
The landing was completed without further incident. All occupants—the pilot and three passengers—were uninjured, though the aircraft sustained damage related to the reported instrument failure.
The investigation
Investigators from JIAAC conducted a thorough review of the flight crew's documentation, including licenses, medical certificates, and flight logs. They also examined the maintenance records of the aircraft, which had been recently serviced by Aerojet Services, C.A.
The technical investigation included a physical inspection of the engine's oil and temperature indicators. Maintenance technicians performed tests to observe the instrument behavior under operating conditions.
Findings
Technical inspections revealed that the oscillation in the temperature indicator was caused by disconnected canons within the instrument. Following the identification of this mechanical issue, repairs were carried out according to the aircraft maintenance manual. Subsequent engine ground runs confirmed that all parameters had returned to normal operation.