The Brazilian Air Force's (FAB) Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa) has released the preliminary report on the Voepass plane crash in Vinhedo (SP), which occurred on August 9. The accident, which killed 62 people, left the country in mourning and mobilized authorities to investigate the causes of the tragedy.
According to the report, the plane had problems with the de-icing system, which would have worked intermittently, turning on and off several times before the crash.
Also, documents from the National Civil Aviation Agency highlighted issues in the maintenance procedures of the aircraft fleet of Voepass, the fourth largest airline in the Brazil.
During the investigation process, a defect was identified in the navigation panel , which may have increased the complexity for the pilots to control the aircraft, especially in adverse flight conditions.
Worth noting here, the preliminary report does not colclude the investigation or aim to assign any responsibility, but rather to identify the causes of the accident to prevent similar events in the future. Among the advances in the investigation are the recovery of the aircraft's black boxes and data recorder.
The report, which marks the first release of data on the accident, should provide information on the events that occurred during the flight. However, the factors that caused the crash of the ATR-72 aircraft will be investigated in a second stage.
The presentation of the document is considered essential for aviation safety, as it may contain items that are relevant to the future operation of the aircraft model, making it possible to mitigate risks, if necessary.
At a press conference held in Brasília, Cenipa reported that the aircraft had all the necessary licenses to operate and that the technical maintenance records were up to date.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Paulo Mendes Fróes, who is responsible for the investigation, the plane was duly certified to fly in icy conditions, and the pilots had received specific training to operate in such situations, carried out in simulators.
The aircraft's de-icing system, which prevents ice from accumulating on external surfaces, malfunctioned during the flight. The system turned on and off several times, which may have compromised flight safety, the report said. However, the document emphasizes that these findings are still preliminary and that the final report will be released at a later date, after more detailed analysis.
The aircraft crashed in a rural area of Vinhedo , about 115 km from its final destination, Guarulhos (SP). All 62 occupants of the plane, including passengers and crew, died in the tragedy.
Among the victims were entire families returning from vacation, as well as businessmen and crew members with extensive flying experience.
The Cenipa report revealed that the Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator (EHSI), a part of the navigation panel that helps integrate and visualize data from GPS, radar and other flight instruments, had a defect pending repair.
Although the EHSI is not a mandatory piece of equipment for flight, it facilitates the reading of essential data during navigation, especially in critical situations. Without the EHSI working properly, pilots may have had difficulty processing the large amount of flight information, which increased the workload in the cockpit.
In addition to the panel problem, other minor defects were identified in the aircraft, including an inoperative landing and taxiing brake and the co-pilot's side windshield wiper, which also did not function properly.
Although these problems are not considered to be determinants of the crash, they were recorded as failures that could compromise the safe operation of the aircraft.
The preliminary document also indicated that the cockpit voice recorder captured conversations by the co-pilot about the need to “add power” to the aircraft minutes before the crash, as well as shouts inside the plane.
The transcription, which lasted about two hours, was made by the Cenipa data reading and analysis laboratory. The information indicates that the plane lost altitude suddenly, but investigators have not yet confirmed whether this was the direct cause of the crash.
In addition to the investigation conducted by CENIPA, the Federal Police (PF) is also investigating the causes of the accident, with the aim of identifying possible human or technical errors that could result in criminal liability.
Criminal experts from the National Institute of Criminalistics are working together with CENIPA investigators to carry out examinations of the aircraft wreckage and the black boxes.
The Federal Police are responsible for preparing an Aeronautical Accident Report , which will provide technical details on the factors that contributed to the accident. This report will be compared with witness statements and evidence analysis to determine whether there was negligence or incompetence on the part of the crew, Voepass or other entities involved.
In a press release, Voepass stated that the aircraft involved in the accident was in full flight condition and that all systems required for takeoff were functioning correctly at the time of boarding. The company stressed that it is collaborating with the investigation to ensure that the work is completed quickly and accurately.
Voepass also stated that it is offering support to the families of the victims, providing transportation, accommodation and psychological support to the relatives. According to the company, the family support team was mobilized immediately after the tragedy, with the aim of ensuring support and providing as much assistance as possible.
The report released by Cenipa is preliminary in nature , and the final document, which will present a more in-depth analysis of the causes of the accident, has not yet been scheduled for completion.
The crash of the Voepass ATR-72 is among the worst air tragedies in Brazil in recent years, and the outcome of the investigation will be crucial in determining whether there were systemic failures that could prevent similar accidents in the future.
Both Cenipa and the Federal Police are committed to ensuring that all details are thoroughly analyzed before the final report is released.
The ATR-72 Turboprop has a history of pilots losing control of the aircraft due to icing, including a 2016 incident in Norway in which the pilot regained control of the aircraft after stalling. In 2010, icing and pilot error caused Aero Caribbean Flight 883 to crash, killing 68 people in Cuba.
Voepass earlier said in a statement that the ATR 72-500's systems were fully operational and that the company follows all industry regulations.
The second phase of the investigation, which is expected to take up to a year to complete, will seek to identify the “contributing factors” that led to the crash. The final report is eagerly awaited by the families of the victims and civil aviation authorities.
Aircraft manufacturer ATR released a statement, saying,
"ATR has been informed of the publication of the preliminary report issued yesterday by the Brazilian investigation board CENIPA, related to the accident of the ATR 72-500 operated by Voepass, occurred on August 9th. ATR re-affirms its full support to all the authorities involved."
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