What happened
On February 22, 2021, a scheduled commercial passenger flight operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas S.A., involving a Boeing 73/800 with registration LV-CXS, encountered a technical issue during its descent. While approaching its destination at Río Grande Airport in Tierra del Fuego, the flight crew identified a malfunction involving the flap system, specifically noting an indication error and what appeared to be a blockage of the components.
Upon discovering the system failure, the crew evaluated the possibility of diverting to Comodoro Rivadavia. However, after assessing the aircraft's remaining fuel autonomy, the decision was made to proceed to the originally planned destination. The aircraft landed safely at Río Grande without any damage to the airframe or injuries to the 6 passengers on board.
The investigation
The Argentine Transportation Safety Board (JST) conducted a technical review of the event. Investigators examined the aircraft's condition following the landing and analyzed the operational decisions made by the crew during the descent phase. The investigation focused on the nature of the flap system failure and the impact of the malfunction on the flight's safety margins.
Findings
- The primary issue was a system/component failure (not related to the engine group) involving flap indications and an apparent mechanical blockage.
- The crew's decision to proceed to Río Grande instead of diverting to Comodoro Rivadavia was based on a calculated assessment of fuel autonomy.
- The occurrence did not result in any injuries or structural damage to the aircraft.