Incident Overview
A DC-9-82 operated by Rutas Aéreas De Venezuela RAV, S.A. departed Maracaibo's La Chinita International Airport (SVMC) en route to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía (SVMI). The aircraft carried a crew of six—one pilot, one first officer, and four cabin crew—along with 115 passengers, totaling 121 persons on board. The planned flight time was 50 minutes.
Nose Gear Malfunction
During initial climb and landing gear retraction, the flight crew observed a cockpit indication that the nose landing gear had not transitioned and locked into its bay. In accordance with the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH), the pilots executed the prescribed procedures and requested clearance from approach control to return to the departure airport. The aircraft landed safely at SVMC at 12:15 UTC.
Occupant and Aircraft Status
All passengers and crew members were uninjured. The aircraft sustained no damage beyond the landing gear system anomaly described.
Investigation Findings
Investigators from the Junta Investigadora de Accidentes (JIA) conducted inspections and troubleshooting. They identified that the nose gear strut contained low levels of nitrogen gas. The nitrogen loss was attributed to a leak through the strut's charging and servicing valve; no other leakage points were detected. The valve was serviced, and the strut was recharged with hydraulic oil and nitrogen. Subsequent functional tests of the nose landing gear system produced satisfactory results, confirming proper operation.
Contributing Factors
No causal factors were explicitly stated in the investigation report. The finding of low nitrogen in the strut due to a leaking valve was noted as the direct condition that likely affected the gear transition indication.