Incident Overview
On 6 September 2025, at 17:43 UTC, a Boeing 737-2B7, registration YV2792, serial number 22887, operated by Estelar Latinoamérica, C.A., departed from Simón Bolívar International Airport in La Guaira, Venezuela, bound for San Antonio del Táchira Airport. The flight carried five crew members and 68 passengers.
The flight proceeded normally until reaching flight level FL 280, when the crew requested clearance to begin descent. During this phase, they observed a low hydraulic fluid indication without a corresponding low-pressure warning. The crew immediately followed the procedures in the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) and the captain decided to return to the departure airport as a preventive measure.
Landing and Post-Flight
After landing, the aircraft exited the runway onto a taxiway, where it requested a tow. The crew and passengers were unharmed, and the aircraft sustained no structural damage.
Investigation Findings
The Junta Investigadora de Accidentes de Aviación Civil (JIAAC) investigated the incident. Interviews were conducted, and documentation reviewed, including maintenance records. The aircraft had received its last scheduled maintenance from Estelar Technik C.A. (OMAC No. 681) at Simón Bolívar International Airport.
Inspection revealed two hydraulic leaks:
- System B leak: A damaged packing in a hydraulic line connected to the electric pump caused fluid leakage.
- System A leak: A loose fitting in the pressure line from engine #2 (right) to the system module resulted in a loss of pressure.
Maintenance Actions
Technicians performed troubleshooting per the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM). The packing in the System B pressure line was replaced, and the fitting on the engine #2 pressure line was adjusted. Operational checks of both hydraulic systems, conducted according to AMM procedures, yielded satisfactory results.
Conditions and Crew
Meteorological conditions were unlimited and favorable throughout the flight. The captain, aged 64, held a valid Airline Transport Pilot License with type ratings and a valid medical certificate. The first officer, aged 32, held a Commercial Pilot License with appropriate ratings and a valid medical certificate. Both were current in their qualifications.