Incident Overview
On April 29, 2023, at 11:34 UTC, a British Aerospace Jetstream 3100 (registration YV2972) departed from Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI) in Maiquetía, Venezuela. The aircraft was operated by Blue Star Aviation, C.A., with a local flight plan to El Gran Roque Aerodrome (SVRS). The crew consisted of two pilots and twelve passengers were on board.
Operational Sequence
During the initial climb phase, while performing a checklist at 400 feet altitude, the captain identified that the ground steering control was isolated. Due to the narrow and short runway configuration at the destination, which limited maneuvering margins, the crew decided to return to SVMI. The aircraft landed on Runway 10L approximately seven minutes after takeoff. The landing involved the use of braking systems and asymmetric engine power application. All occupants were unharmed, and the aircraft sustained no structural damage.
Aircraft and Crew Status
The Jetstream 3100 held a valid airworthiness certificate issued by the state of registry. Maintenance records indicated that the last scheduled services were performed by OVIA Mantenimiento 2018, C.A. The pilot-in-command was a 65-year-old captain with over 18,000 total flight hours and specific type rating for the Jetstream 31. The first officer was a 30-year-old commercial pilot with 685 total hours and type ratings for the aircraft.
Investigation Details
The investigation, conducted by the Venezuelan Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Board (JIAAC), included crew interviews, review of maintenance logs, and visual inspection of the aircraft. The steering wheel was replaced according to manual 32-50-05. Meteorological conditions at SVMI were reported as unlimited visibility with calm winds. The investigation remains in the analysis phase, with a final report pending.