Incident Overview
On a scheduled passenger flight from Maiquetía's Simón Bolívar International Airport to Maracaibo's La Chinita International Airport, a LASER McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-81, registration YV2923) experienced a landing gear malfunction shortly after takeoff. The aircraft had 89 passengers and 7 crew members on board. During initial climb, the landing gear remained partially retracted. The flight crew continued the MARES 1 departure, then notified Maiquetía Approach Control of the situation and requested a holding pattern, which was approved. The captain applied procedures from the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) and subsequently returned to Maiquetía, where the aircraft landed without further incident. All occupants were uninjured, and the aircraft sustained only the previously mentioned landing gear anomaly.
Aircraft and Crew
The aircraft was a twin-engine jet manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, model DC-9-81 (MD-81), with serial number 49907. It was powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217A turbofan engines. The aircraft held a valid airworthiness certificate issued by the Venezuelan Civil Aviation Authority (INAC). The captain, aged 54, held a commercial pilot license with valid medical certification and type ratings for instrument flight and MD-80 captain. The first officer, aged 36, held a commercial pilot license with valid medical certification and multiple type ratings including MD-80 copilot.
Investigation and Findings
The investigation was conducted by the Junta Investigadora de Accidentes (JIA). Inspections revealed that the ground sensing control cable, an on-condition component, was malfunctioning. The investigation included review of pilot and aircraft documentation, interviews with the flight crew, inspection of the aircraft, and component testing in accordance with the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM). Photographic evidence was gathered during the inspection.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the incident was determined to be a malfunction of the ground sensing control cable (guaya del Ground Sensing Control).