What happened
On November 13, 2022, at approximately 02:00 UTC, a Boeing 737-86N, registration LV-KDQ, was performing a scheduled regional commercial flight from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in Buenos Aires to Gobernador Guzmán International Airport in Jujuy. During the approach phase of the flight, the aircraft encountered a thunderstorm containing hail. The impact of the hail caused visible damage to the aircraft's leading edges, the tail stabilizers, and the radome.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight conditions during the approach to the Jujuy aerodrome. It was established that the aircraft encountered severe weather conditions characterized by a hailstorm. The physical inspection of the aircraft confirmed that the hail strikes affected specific structural components, including the aerodynamic leading edges and the nose cone.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered a thunderstorm during the approach phase.
- The primary cause of the damage was the impact of hail against the airframe.
- Damage was specifically noted on the leading edges, the stabilizers, and the radome.