Venezuelan MD-80 Returns to Maiquetía After Generator and APU Failures

Incident Overview and Flight Details On October 31, 2022, at 16:15 UTC, Douglas Aircraft Company MD-80 aircraft YV3475, serial number 49565, operated by LASER, departed Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI) in Venezuela for Las Américas International Airport (MDSD) in the Dominican Republic. The aircraft carried 97 people, 30,500 pounds of fuel, and was climbing toward flight level 320. ## In-Flight Failures and Return At 16:45 UTC, while climbing through flight level 250 and approximately 25 nautical miles from the Venezuela–Curaçao flight information region boundary, the autopilot and automatic power control disconnected. The crew identified a left generator failure. After manual control and a reset procedure, the APU was activated, but it failed approximately two minutes later. The crew notified air traffic control and returned to SVMI, landing without incident at 17:00 UTC. ## Aircraft and Maintenance Records The source describes the aircraft as a Douglas DC-9-82, serial 49565, with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217D/219 turbofan engines. Maintenance records indicate the left generator was replaced on October 29, 2022, following earlier reports. After the incident, the left generator control unit was replaced, and a right engine oil pressure regulating valve was also replaced. The APU was deferred for further action. ## Investigation Status The investigation, case number 065/2022, was in its preliminary phase. The Venezuelan authority notified the United States as the state of design and manufacture. The NTSB assigned a representative. The final report was pending.