What happened
On January 6, 2023, a Rockwell 690B, registration LV-MYA, was performing a passenger transport flight from Laguna del Sauce International Airport (SULS) to Córdoba, Argentina (SACO). While cruising at 16,000 feet, the flight crew detected the smell of burning plastic and observed white smoke emanating from the upper left section of the main instrument panel.
In response to the situation, the pilot requested an immediate diversion to Carrasco International Airport (SUMU). To mitigate the risk, the crew proactively disabled the electrical power to the potentially affected equipment, only restoring it as necessary to maintain communication with air traffic control. The aircraft landed safely on runway 07 at SUMU without further incident. All seven occupants—one crew member and six passengers—disembarked the aircraft unharmed.
The investigation
The CIAIA investigation focused on identifying the source of the smoke and the cause of the burning odor. Following the landing, the aircraft's maintenance organization (OMA) inspected the cockpit area. The investigation examined the electrical systems, the instrument panel, and the physical condition of the wiring and components.
Findings
- The investigation identified that a fuse providing power to the communication equipment electronics was not properly seated in its correct position.
- The maintenance team corrected the fuse placement, after which the smell of burning plastic and the presence of smoke did not recur.
- No evidence of heat damage, scorch marks, or smoke residue was found on the instrument panel or surrounding equipment during the technical inspection.
- The investigation concluded that the improperly seated fuse may have caused minor overheating, which was sufficient to produce the detected odor and white smoke.