Investigation into Voepass crash finds problem with anti-icing system — MercoPress

The Voepass crash investigation identified a problem with the anti-icing system

According to audio recordings kept in the so-called “black box,” the co-pilot of the doomed Voepass Flight 2283 spoke of “a lot of ice” before the tragedy occurred, according to a preliminary report published on Friday by the Brazilian Center for the Investigation and Prevention of Aircraft Accidents (Cenipa), Agencia Brasil reported.

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) department stressed that the analysis of cockpit voices indicated a failure in the de-icing system that protects the aircraft from the formation and accumulation of ice on the wings. It was also found that the “aircraft de-icing system” was turned on and off several times. However, it remains to be clarified whether this was done manually by the crew or if it was a malfunction.

“There were two recordings on the voice recordings. In the first, the pilot comments that there was a fault in the aircraft system. In the second, the co-pilot comments exactly this sentence: 'A lot of ice,'” said Lieutenant Colonel Paulo Mendes Fróes, who heads the investigation commission.

According to Cenipa, high humidity and air temperatures below 0 °C prevailed during the flight, which favored the formation of severe aircraft ice from central northern Paraná to São Paulo.

The crash occurred on August 9 in the municipality of Vinhedo (SP) and caused the deaths of the 62 people on board, including four crew members and 58 passengers.

Investigators reported that the aircraft was capable of flying in icy conditions because it was up to date with maintenance and that the pilot, co-pilot and other crew members were qualified and experienced for this type of flight. At no time did the crew report an emergency to air traffic control authorities or nearby aircraft.

In addition, meteorological information was available before the start, indicating heavy icing on the track. “It is important to stress that there is no single factor for an accident, but several factors that contribute to it. In the case of PS VPB [the Voepass aircraft]”The aircraft lost control during the flight under conditions conducive to the formation of ice, but there was no declaration of emergency or report of adverse weather conditions,” explained Mendes Fróes.

Cenipa also stated that the crashed aircraft was registered and certified under the Regular Public Air Transport Registration (TPR) category and was equipped with systems enabling it to operate in adverse environmental conditions, including icing.

According to Cenipa, the investigation will now have three main focuses: the human factor – which will assess the performance of the technical crew in the situation; the material factor – which will examine airworthiness, with particular attention to anti-icing, de-icing and protection systems; and the operational factor – which will analyse the elements of the operating environment that may have led to the accident.

“The information available in the preliminary report may be updated if new facts become available. Our goal is to present the final report as soon as possible, depending on the complexity of the incident and the need to uncover possible contributing factors,” noted Cenipa chief Brigadier Marcelo Moreno.

The twin-engine turboprop aircraft ATR 72 took off from Cascavel (PR) at 11:58 a.m. towards Guarulhos Airport. From 1:21 p.m. it stopped responding to calls from São Paulo approach control (APP-SP). At 1:22 p.m. it landed in a residential area.

Cenipa also noted that the investigation “does not aim to establish guilt or liability, as provided for in paragraph 4, article 1 of Decree no. 9,540/2018, nor is it designed to demonstrate a probable cause of the accident, but rather to identify possible contributing factors that will make it possible to clarify any technical problems related to the aircraft accident.”