VNE220 Cabin Pressurization Incident (YV3499)

Incident Overview and Flight Details On April 6, 2022, at 10:05 UTC, aircraft registration YV3499, operated by Rutas Aéreas de Venezuela, S.A. (RAVSA), commenced commercial flight VNE220 from La Chinita International Airport (SVMC) in Maracaibo, Zulia State, bound for Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI) in Maiquetía, La Guaira State. During the climb to cruising altitude, after passing 21,000 ft, the cabin altitude began to rise, indicating a loss of cabin pressurization. The flight crew executed the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) procedures to restore pressurization. When these efforts were unsuccessful, the QRH mandated an emergency descent. The pilot in command subsequently requested to return to the departure airport, where the aircraft landed without further incident. All occupants were unharmed, and the aircraft sustained no damage. ## Aircraft Description and Certification The aircraft was a twin-engine, turbofan-powered land-based McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD82), serial number 49392, with a transport category and FAA Type Certificate A6WE. It featured a retractable tricycle landing gear and was configured for 163 passengers and six crew members. The two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engines, mounted on either side of the rear fuselage, each produced a maximum thrust of 20,850 lb. The maximum takeoff weight was 142,000 lb (67,812 kg). The aircraft held valid registration, airworthiness, and radio station certificates issued by the INAC, the aeronautical authority of the state of registry. The maintenance organization supporting the operator was OMAC-N: 441, SERVITEC. ## Crew Qualifications and Meteorological Conditions The pilot in command, aged 37, held a medical certificate, an Airline Transport Pilot license for airplanes, and type ratings for MD80 captain and instrument flight, all issued by the INAC. The pilot had 5,200 total flight hours, including 2,254.78 hours as pilot in command. The first officer, aged 31, held a medical certificate, a Commercial Pilot license for airplanes, and type ratings for MD80 first officer and instrument flight, with 1,800 total flight hours. Meteorological conditions at the time included winds of 10 kt from 40°, visibility of 6 nautical miles, and clouds at 2,000 ft, with generally good weather. ## Notification and Reporting In accordance with Chapter 4 of Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the incident was reported via form JIAA 016/2022 to the ADREP system and the International Civil Aviation Organization (OACI). Electronic notifications were also sent to the accident investigation authorities of the interested states, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States as the state of design and manufacture. All times in the report are in UTC; Venezuela legal time is UTC-4. This preliminary report was issued by the General Directorate of the Administrative Office for Transport Safety in Caracas on March 8, 2022.