What happened
On August 9, 2022, at 16:30 UTC, an Airbus A300-B4-203, registration YV-560T, operated by Transcarga Intl. Airways C.A. (TIACA), departed from Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI) in Maiquetía, Venezuela, bound for El Dorado International Airport (SKBO) in Bogotá, Colombia.
During the initial climb phase, the pilot commanded the retraction of the landing gear. However, upon moving the landing gear lever, the mechanism became stuck in a neutral position and failed to retract. The crew immediately performed the required memory items without success. Following the procedures outlined in the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) regarding the L/G Lever Interlock, the crew found the issue persisted. Consequently, the flight crew canceled the destination and initiated a return to Maiquet $ ext{quetía}$. The aircraft landed safely on runway 10L with no injuries to the occupants and no damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The JIAAC investigation included an inspection of the aircraft at the site, interviews with the pilots, and a review of maintenance records. Investigators examined the aircraft's airworthiness documentation and the maintenance history provided by the operator's maintenance organization (OMAC). The investigation also involved notifying international authorities, including the NTSB, as the state of engine manufacture.
Findings
The investigation determined that the landing gear failure was caused by an inoperative proximity detector sensor.