What happened
On October 12, 2022, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (registration YV3465), operated by LASER Airlines, was performing a scheduled flight from Maiquetia International Airport (SVMI) to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (MSDS). The aircraft was carrying 103 people, including the flight crew and 94 passengers.
During the initial climb phase, the pilot in command executed an evasive maneuver to avoid a flock of birds. Following this maneuver, cabin crew reported a loud noise originating from beneath the floor near the front left door. The flight crew subsequently observed that the cabin was not pressurizing. Although no specific warning lights indicated an open compartment, the "FLOW" light was illuminated. Following established Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) procedures, the crew notified Air Traffic Services of their decision to return to Maiకిetia. The aircraft landed safely at 16:30 UTC with no injuries and no damage to the airframe.
The investigation
JIAAC investigators examined the aircraft upon its arrival at Maiquetia. Inspections revealed that the main airstair door on the front left side was not fully closed, and the securing lever was in the open position. Pressure tests confirmed that this improperly secured door was the sole source of the cabin pressure leak.
Further technical inspections identified three specific non-conformities within the door and monitoring systems:
- The cockpit indicator light failed to illuminate when the door was open.
- The cabin crew forward control panel indicator light failed to illuminate when the door was open.
- The mechanical interlocking system, designed to prevent operation while the door is closed, was malfunctioning due to an incorrectly sized interlocking arm.