What happened
On November 24, 2024, a Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft, registration C-FPIJ, was operating a scheduled international flight from Santiago, Chile, to Buenos Aires, Argentina. While cruising at FL350, the crew began their descent within the Ezeiza Flight Information Region (FIR). As the aircraft descended through altitudes between 28,000 and 25,000 feet, it encountered a convective cell characterized by severe turbulence, moderate to severe icing, hail, and lightning strikes near Junín, Buenos Aires.
During this period of intense weather, the crew transitioned to manual flight by disconnecting the autopilot. Concurrently, the aircraft's weather radar system experienced failures, depriving the crew of vital meteorological data. The aircraft eventually landed safely at Ministro Pistarini International Airport at 21:40 UTC. Upon arrival and engine shutdown, ground personnel identified significant external damage to the airframe.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted as a desk study, focused on the physical damage identified by the operator's maintenance team. The inspection revealed several points of impact and electrical damage, including a lightning strike to the radome and the loss of a static discharger wick on the upper vertical stabilizer. Furthermore, the inspection found missing landing gear locking pins, inoperable beacon lights, and a broken strobe light on the left wing. Structural damage was also noted on the engine nacelles and various flap fairings on both wings, alongside a puncture in the left wing underside panel.
Findings
- The primary cause of the aircraft damage was the encounter with a convective storm cell containing hail and lightning.
- The aircraft's weather radar failed during the descent, limiting the crew's ability to navigate around the most intense weather cells.
- The encounter resulted in minor damage to the airframe, including structural punctures and electrical component failures.