What happened
On May 14, 2023, at 16:55 UTC, a Britten-Norman BN-2A-9, registration YV2925, was performing a flight from Santa Elena de Uairén to the Aripichi community in the Gran Sabana municipality of Bolívar State. The aircraft was carrying four occupants, including a pilot, a co-pilot, and two passengers.
During the landing phase on the unpaved Aripichi runway, the pilot attempted to apply the brakes to decelerate the aircraft. However, the left brake failed, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway. In an effort to reduce speed and stop the aircraft in accordance with the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH), the pilot proceeded to shut down the engines. As the aircraft continued to travel along the gravel surface, it encountered a hole caused by water erosion. This impact resulted in the fracture of the right main landing gear, bringing the aircraft to a halt.
All four occupants were reported uninjured, although the aircraft sustained significant damage.
The investigation
The Venezuelan JIAAC investigation is currently in its preliminary phase. Investigators conducted a 360-degree visual inspection of the aircraft and documented specific damages, including a detached right main landing gear and a broken brake line on the right side.
Authorities have interviewed the pilot and co-pilot and requested various maintenance and operational records from the operator and the maintenance organization (OMAC). The investigation is also reviewing the traceability of the landing gear components and inspecting the runway conditions to assess the impact of soil erosion on the incident.