Incident Overview
On September 11, 2022, at 11:34 UTC, Avior Airlines aircraft YV2823 departed from General José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport (SVBC) in Barcelona, Venezuela, bound for Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI) in Maiquetía. The flight was a commercial operation carrying 109 people on board.
Operational Sequence
During the approach phase to SVMI at 11:49 UTC, while descending from 6,500 feet to 5,000 feet under instructions from Maiquetía Approach Control, the pilot in command observed an intermittent "Low Press" light for Engine No. 1 hydraulic system. Upon leveling off and configuring the aircraft for landing by extending flaps to position 1, both "Low Press" lights for Hydraulic System A illuminated, and the hydraulic oil quantity indicator read zero.
The crew requested authorization to maintain 4,000 feet and orbit north of the station to apply the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) procedures for hydraulic failures. They successfully achieved alternate flap extension to 15 degrees, as stipulated in the manual for normal configuration landing with good braking action. The captain decided to continue the approach, and the aircraft landed without incident at SVMI.
Aircraft and Crew Details
The aircraft is a Boeing 737-232 (B737-200 series), serial number 23090, powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofan engines. It was certified for commercial service with a maximum takeoff weight of 119,500 lbs. The flight crew consisted of a captain and a first officer, both holding valid licenses and medical certifications from the Venezuelan aviation authority (INAC). The captain had 3,940 total flight hours, while the first officer had 3,300 total flight hours.
Investigation Findings
Preliminary investigation by the Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Board (JIAAC) confirmed an external leak of hydraulic fluid in the nose gear line of Hydraulic System A. Photographic evidence and inspection revealed damage to the hydraulic line connector at the nose gear. The aircraft was towed to the general apron after landing, with no significant structural damage reported beyond the hydraulic failure.
Preventive Measures
The investigation board recommended that Avior Airlines implement a surveillance program using fleet reliability statistics for 737-200 components and evaluate past hydraulic system failures to verify recurrence and adjust inspection conditions. The investigation remains in the technical analysis phase.