On November 19, 2022, a BOEING 727-2X3 (registration HK4401) operated by LAS-LINEAS AEREAS SURAMERICANAS was involved in an aviation accident near EN FASE DE VUELO NIVEL DE CRUCERO, VE. This summary draws on records from the Venezuelan Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Board (JIAAC Venezuela); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
On November 19, 2022, a Boeing 727-2X3 operated by Líneas Aéreas Suramericanas returned to Maiquetía after the pilot reported a cracked windshield. All seven occupants were unharmed.
Incident Overview and Flight Details On November 19, 2022, a Boeing 727-2X3 with registration HK4401 and serial number 22609, owned by Líneas Aéreas Suramericanas, departed from Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI) in Maiquetía, Venezuela, at 17:25 UTC. The aircraft was en route to Las Américas International Airport (MDSD) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, carrying seven people and 42,000 pounds of fuel. ## In-Flight Event and Return While cruising at flight level 10,000 feet north of the KABON position, the pilot in command reported to Curaçao Area Control Center that the left section 1 of the windshield had cracked, apparently in its outer layer. The captain decided to return to the departure airport, SVMI. Following the Quick Reference Handbook procedures and the operator's operational policies, the aircraft landed at SVMI at 18:20 UTC. All occupants were unharmed, and the aircraft sustained no additional damage. ## Aircraft and Maintenance Background The aircraft was a Boeing 727-2X3, certified as a cargo transport aircraft with type certificate A3WE issued by the FAA. At the time of the incident, it was airworthy under a valid certificate of airworthiness issued by the state of registry, and its maintenance records were on file. The last preventive and scheduled maintenance was performed by an Approved Maintenance Organization in Colombia, OMA No. 150, located in Bogotá. ## Crew Information The pilot in command was 63 years old and held a valid medical certificate and an Airline Pilot License issued on January 29, 1991, by Colombia's Civil Aeronautics Authority. His ratings included DC-6, SE-210, and B727, with 15,000 hours as pilot in command on the involved model and 24,000 total hours. The co-pilot was 27 years old and held a valid medical certificate and a Commercial Pilot License issued on August 25, 2014, by the same authority. His ratings included single-engine land aircraft up to 5,700 kg, co-pilot B721 and B722, and instrument flight, with 1,360 hours as co-pilot on the involved model and 1,580 total hours. ## Weather and Investigation Activities Weather conditions at SVMI at the time of the incident were calm winds from the north, unlimited visibility, and few clouds. During the investigation, the team requested flight documentation, interviewed the flight crew, and obtained aircraft, crew, and maintenance records. A visual inspection and photographic documentation of the windshield confirmed cracking in the left section. The aircraft was placed under custody and returned to the pilot in command on behalf of the operator. ## Repair and Preventive Measures The onboard mechanic replaced the left section 1 of the windshield with a new unit sent by the operator, which had the necessary documentation for airworthiness and component traceability. The work was supervised by the operator's Approved Maintenance Organization and supported by OMAC No. 343 Elite Air Service in SVMI, with authorization from the state of registry's aeronautical authority. The windshield was then sealed externally with resin, and a cabin pressurization test was performed. The investigation board issued preventive measures encouraging operators to inspect their fleets to determine windshield design and age in years and flight hours. Airlines were advised to establish windshield service life by comparing fleet performance with data collected by Boeing. Windshields should be inspected, maintained, repaired, and replaced during scheduled maintenance. Damaged or unusable windshields may be repaired by Boeing, its approved suppliers, or the original windshield manufacturer; those that cannot be repaired should be replaced with improved-design windshields. ## Notification and Reporting In accordance with Chapter 4 of Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the incident was reported using form MPPT-JIAA-F014 under case number 068/2022 and submitted to the ICAO ADREP system. All times in the report are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), with Venezuela's local time being UTC-4. The report was issued in Caracas on December 7, 2022.
