Incident Overview
On 10 January 2023 at 01:20 UTC, an Airbus A320-232, registration LV-IVN, operated by JetSmart Airlines S.A., was parked at position 01 of Ingeniero Ambrosio Taravella International Airport in Córdoba, Argentina. All passengers had already boarded the aircraft. During the removal of the self-propelled passenger stairs positioned at the rear left door, the stairs struck the fuselage, resulting in damage to the aircraft's skin.
Investigation Findings
According to the investigation conducted by the Junta de Seguridad en el Transporte (JST), the incident occurred after the refueling was completed. The stairs operator, an employee of Intercargo, received the instruction to remove the stairs. When activating the controls, the operator mistakenly engaged the command for upward extension instead of the command that raises the stabilizers. Due to the darkness outside the vehicle, the operator did not notice that the stabilizers remained stationary. As a result, the stairs began to lift and sustained deformation at the contact point with the aircraft, causing a portion of the stair structure to penetrate the fuselage skin. The damaged area corresponded to the pressurized section of the aircraft.
Aircraft and Equipment Details
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A320-232, registration LV-IVN, owned and operated by JetSmart Airlines S.A. The stairs were a self-propelled unit equipped with an internal control panel featuring three levers for stabilizers and stair movement, a push button to release the extension lock, a light switch, and two red indicator lights. One indicator signals the hydraulic pump status, and the other warns when stabilizers are extended. The stairs operator held a valid certification and had two years of experience, operating such equipment one to two times per shift. The operator had received both theoretical and practical training from company instructors.
Occupants and Damage
The aircraft carried 6 crew members and 149 passengers, totaling 155 occupants. No injuries were reported. The damage to the aircraft was classified as minor (leves), limited to the fuselage skin.