What happened
On August 13, 2021, at 15:15 UTC, a Cessna 550 Citation II, registration YV312<0xA0>24, was performing a flight from San Fernando de Apure (SVSR) to Valle de la Pascua (SVVP). The aircraft, operated by Inversiones Actal 232, C.A., was carrying nine people, including the pilot in command and the first officer.
During the landing phase, while the crew was attempting to straighten the aircraft and make contact with the runway, the aircraft encountered a depression or sinkhole in the touchdown zone. This irregularity caused the aircraft to bounce. Upon attempting to apply the brakes, the crew found they were unresponsive. The crew subsequently decided to shut down the engines; however, the aircraft had already reached the end of the runway. The aircraft exited the paved surface into the safety area, resulting in a runway excursion. All nine occupants were uninjured, though the aircraft sustained significant damage.
The investigation
The JIAAC investigation examined the aircraft and the airfield conditions. Inspection of the Cessna 550 Citation II revealed damage to the nose gear actuator, a broken torque link, damage to the steering actuator and door, and damage to the nose gear assembly and door. Additionally, damage was noted on both the left and right Pitot-static probes and their mounting areas, along with skin loss on the lower fuselage between stations FS 89.00 and FS 117. The braking system was found to be in perfect working condition.
An inspection of the runway at Valle de la Pascua revealed material wear, excessive vegetation, and terrain irregularities caused by deterioration.
Findings
- Runway surface irregularities, specifically a depression in the touchdown zone, caused the aircraft to bounce during landing.
- The airfield infrastructure showed significant degradation, including excessive vegetation and uneven terrain.
- The aircraft's braking system was functional, but the excursion continued due to the loss of directional control following the bounce.