Incident Overview
On 18 December 2021, at 12:50 UTC, a Cessna 421C aircraft, registration YV1328, operated by Inversora Feep C.A., departed from Arturo Michelena International Airport (SVVA) in Valencia, Venezuela. The purpose of the flight was to conduct a local test of the aircraft's systems following an extended period of inactivity and maintenance since 2017. The flight lasted approximately 30 minutes and concluded with a normal landing at SVVA.
Subsequently, the pilot filed a new flight plan to General José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport (SVBC) in Barcelona, Anzoátegui, with an estimated departure time of 14:00 UTC. At 15:51 UTC, while approximately 6 nautical miles from SVBC on the 239-degree radial of the VOR station, the pilot reported a failure of the right engine and its shutdown. The decision was made to conduct an emergency landing on flat terrain. All occupants were uninjured, and the aircraft sustained serious damage.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 421C, serial number 421C0452, a twin-engine, low-wing monoplane powered by two reciprocating Continental GTSIO-520-L engines, each rated at 375 horsepower. It was equipped with a retractable tricycle landing gear. The aircraft held standard airworthiness certificates for passenger transport and was registered for private corporate use. Maintenance support was provided by Tecni Aereos C.A. (OMAC-N 671).
The pilot, aged 38, held a valid Commercial Pilot License with ratings for single-engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument flight, as well as co-pilot ratings for BE20 and BE30 aircraft. He had accumulated 2,023 total flight hours, with 2 hours on the Cessna 421C, last flown on 20 September 2019. Medical certification was current.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the incident, meteorological conditions reported at SVBC included winds from 45 degrees at 4 knots and visibility of 9,999 meters.
Investigation
The investigation is being conducted by the Dirección General Oficina Administrativa para la Seguridad del Transporte (DGST) of Venezuela. The incident was notified to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) via the ADREP system, and to the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as the state of design and manufacture. This report is preliminary and subject to change as the investigation progresses.