What happened
On March 7, 2021, a private Raytheon B200, registration LV-ZYB, was conducting a general aviation ferry flight from Estancia San Eugenio, Corrientes, to San Fernando, Buenos Aires. While cruising at flight level 260 over the city of Concordia, the pilot detected smoke entering the cabin.
In response to the smoke, the pilot and passenger donned oxygen masks. The pilot declared an emergency with the Ezeiza Area Control Center and diverted to Comodoro Pierrestegui Airport in Concordia. Because the destination airport lacked specialized rescue and firefighting services, local firefighters from the city provided assistance upon the aircraft's arrival. There were no injuries and no damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the source of the smoke and the aircraft's maintenance history. Investigators examined the aircraft's electrical system and the air conditioning components. The inquiry established that the smoke originated from the aft evaporator blower, a component located in the passenger cabin used for air recirculation and cooling.
Upon inspecting the component, investigators found that a failed bearing had caused a short circuit, which subsequently blew the corresponding fuse. The aircraft's maintenance records showed that the annual inspection had been completed in December 2020, and there were no previous recorded issues with the air conditioning system. The investigation also noted that the aircraft lacks a cockpit warning indicator to alert the pilot of a malfunction specifically within this component.