Boeing 737-3H4 aborted takeoff at Maiquetía due to persistent T/O warning (YV645T)

Event overview and aircraft details On 11 July 2022 at 16:29 UTC, a Boeing 737-3H4 with registration YV645T, serial number 27932, and owned by Rutas Aereas C.A. (Rutaca), began a takeoff roll from runway at Maiquetía’s Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI). The flight was planned for an instrument flight to Santo Domingo’s Mayor Buenaventura Vivas Guerrero International Airport (SVSO) at flight level 270. The aircraft carried 107 people: a pilot, a copilot, three cabin crew members, three company technical personnel, and 99 passengers. ## Takeoff abort and outcome During the takeoff roll, the aircraft’s takeoff configuration warning (T/O Warning) activated, indicating a configuration issue. After the crew checked the configuration, the warning remained active. The crew then aborted the takeoff and vacated the runway, taxiing to the operations apron under its own power. All occupants were reported unharmed, and the aircraft was left with the configuration fault described. ## Aircraft, maintenance, and crew The source describes the aircraft as a twin-engine turbofan transport with a tricycle retractable landing gear, rated for 119 passengers and five crew members. Its engines were CFM International CFM-56-3B2 units with a maximum thrust of 16,000 lb, and its maximum takeoff weight was 117,000 lb. The aircraft held valid registration, airworthiness, and radio station certificates issued by Venezuela’s INAC. Its maintenance organization was OMAC N°038B1 Taller Aeronáutico Mares, S.R.L., which had performed the last preventive and scheduled maintenance. The pilot was 60 years old and held valid medical certification, an aeronautical license, and ratings including instrument flight, single-engine land (C172), and B732/B733 captain/PIC. The copilot was 40 years old and held valid medical certification, an aeronautical license, and ratings including B733 copilot/SIC and instrument flight. ## Weather, investigation, and notifications Weather conditions were reported as 5 kt winds, unlimited visibility, and generally good conditions throughout the day. The investigation included notification of the event, requests for pilot and copilot documentation, maintenance reports, crew documents, crew interviews, operator documents, and certificates. The JIAAC was present while the maintenance organization traveled to SVMI to perform examinations and analyses on the aircraft. Under ICAO Annex 13, Chapter 4, the event was reported through JIAAC form 037/2022 to the ICAO ADREP system, and the United States was notified as the state of design and manufacture. The NTSB responded and assigned an accredited representative. The preliminary report was issued by the JIAAC, attached to Venezuela’s Ministry of Transport, on 20 July 2022.