2021 Embraer E190-100IGW incident at Valencia Arturo Michelena International Airport (YV2966)

Incident overview and flight details On August 30, 2021, at 20:48 UTC, an Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW with registration YV2966 and serial number 19000485 began its takeoff roll from the Aeropuerto Internacional “General en Jefe Santiago Mariño” (SVMG) in El Yaque, Nueva Esparta State, Venezuela. The flight was planned to the Aeropuerto Internacional “Arturo Michelena” in Valencia, Carabobo State (SVVA). The aircraft carried 97 people: a pilot, a copilot, five cabin crew members, two extra crew members, and 80 passengers. It had 16,314 pounds of fuel and an estimated en-route time of 43 minutes, with four hours of endurance. ## In-flight events and return During the initial climb, above 400 feet while the landing gear was retracting, the cockpit displayed a “Bleed 1 Fail” indication. The crew performed the abnormal checklist, and the indication disappeared from the EICAS display. Minutes later, the indication reappeared persistently. After completing the associated checklist, the crew was limited to flying above 31,000 feet, as specified in the QRH. At 18,000 feet, a “Bleed 2 Leak” indication appeared. Because the checklist required the APU to be started and the aircraft leveled at 15,000 feet if the other bleed failed, the crew requested descent from the Maiquetía Area Control Center to 15,000 feet and then to 13,000 feet, and notified them of the return to the departure airport. The checklist was completed, the aircraft landed without incident, and all occupants evacuated by their own means, unharmed. The aircraft was undamaged, with the previously mentioned failure (SCF-NP). ## Aircraft and maintenance background The aircraft was an Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW, a transport-category aircraft used for commercial passenger service. It was owned by Consorcio Venezolano de Industrias Aeronáuticas y Servicios Aéreos, S.A. (CONVIASA). Its Brazilian type certificate was N° 2005T13-27, issued by ANAC. At the time of the event, it was airworthy under airworthiness certificate control number 013192, issued by the state of registration. The aircraft had a capacity for 98–114 passengers, two General Electric CF34-10E turbofan engines with a maximum thrust of 20,000 pounds, a wingspan of 28.72 meters (94.3 feet), and a maximum takeoff weight of 51,800 kilograms (114,199 pounds). The last preventive and scheduled maintenance was performed by OMAC-N 431, CONVIASA, at the Simón Bolívar International Airport hangar in Maiquetía, Vargas State. ## Crew and investigation activities The pilot in command was 31 years old and held a valid air transport pilot license and medical certificate from INAC, with instrument flight and E190 captain ratings, 379 hours as pilot in command on the type, and 2,900 total hours. The copilot was 44 years old and held a valid commercial pilot license and medical certificate from INAC, with instrument flight and E190 copilot ratings. Weather conditions were reported as unlimited visibility and generally good throughout the day at the Aeropuerto Internacional “Simón Bolívar” (SVMI). The investigation included notification of the event, crew interviews, and collection of documents from the crew, the operator/owner, and OMAC-N 431. Maintenance records included airworthiness directives, scheduled maintenance compliance, component control, maintenance orders, weight and balance, malfunction reports with corrective actions, maintenance conformity, and avionics control certificates. ## Maintenance validation and probable cause During inspection to validate maintenance corrective actions for the reported “Bleed 1 Fail” indication and subsequent “Bleed 2 Leak” indication, the E-Seal and Incopel of the nacelle pressure regulating shutoff valve for engine number 2 were replaced in accordance with AMM 36-11-03 tasks 36-11-03-000-801A and 36-11-03-400-801-A under slip N° 00123518. The JIAAC determined, based on the inspection performed with the company's TMA on the aircraft, that the probable cause was the failure of the E-Seal and Incopel of the nacelle pressure regulating shutoff valve for engine number 2. The replacement of the E-Seal and Incopel in the nacelle pressure regulating shutoff valve for engine number 2 was verified to be operating satisfactorily. The investigation was closed based on these findings. All times in the report are UTC; Venezuelan time is UTC-4:00.