What happened
On September 5, 2022, at 19:47 UTC, a Boeing 737-200, registration YV2823, operated by Avior Airlines, departed La Americas International Airport in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, for a scheduled commercial flight to General José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport in Barcelona, Venezuela. The aircraft was carrying 53 passengers and a takeoff weight of approximately 119,500 lbs.
While on final approach to Barcelona at approximately 21:50 UTC, the pilot initiated the flap configuration to position 1. During this maneuver, the flight crew observed that the cockpit instruments failed to indicate any movement of the flaps. In response to the lack of indication, the pilot requested a 25-nautical mile avoidance vector from Barcelona Approach to allow time to execute the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) procedures for a "Trailing Edge Flap Disagree" event.
The crew successfully performed an alternate flap extension, reaching a position of 15 degrees as specified in the manual for landing distance requirements. As a precautionary measure, the crew requested the presence of airport rescue and firefighting services. The aircraft landed safely at Barcelona International Airport at 21:56 UTC with no injuries to the passengers or crew, and no significant damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The JIAAC investigation included interviews with the captain and first officer, as well as a physical inspection of the aircraft at the Avior Airlines hangar. Investigators examined the hydraulic system for potential leaks and performed chemical analyses on the hydraulic fluid, testing for viscosity, water content, acidity, and oxidation. The analysis confirmed no contamination was present in the hydraulic oil.
Maintenance inspections were conducted following the aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) to troubleshoot the flap system. This included a check for flap asymmetry and a functional test of the hydraulic system.