Voepass pilots detected a failure in the anti-icing system at the beginning of the flight and reported 'a lot of ice' before the crash, reveals a preliminary report from Cenipa

The preliminary report of the CNIPA revealed that Voepass pilots identified a fault in the system antifreeze of the aircraft at the beginning of the flight. The final document does not yet have a scheduled release date.

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Presentation by Cenipa on the Preliminary Report on the Accident with the Voepass Plane in Vinhedo - Photo Reproduction / Luiz Felipe Barbiéri / g1

The preliminary report released this Friday (06) by the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa), an organization linked to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), revealed that Voepass pilots detected a failure in the aircraft's anti-icing system at the beginning of the flight that resulted in the aircraft crashing last month in Vinhedo (SP). The report details that the crew reported the presence of "plenty of ice" shortly before the accident, suggesting that ice buildup may have played a crucial role in the incident.

Anti-icing System Failure and Ice Accumulation

According to Air Brigadier Marcelo Moreno, head of the Aviation Accident Investigation and Prevention Section, on the Voepass flight that resulted in the death of 62 people, a conversation taken from the cockpit indicated that one of the crew mentioned a failure in the De- Icing (anti-icing). However, this failure was not confirmed by flight data recorder (FDR) data.

Lieutenant Colonel Paulo Mendes Fróes, also from Cenipa, highlighted that the crew discussed possible failures in the wings' "boot" system, which is used to break the ice. Two minutes before the accident, the co-pilot mentioned the presence of "a lot of ice". According to Fróes, there were two mentions of ice in the voice recordings: in one, the pilot mentions a failure in the antifreeze from the plane; in the other, the copilot reports "a lot of ice". These observations occurred during the 1 hour and 10 minute flight.

Cenipa's investigation revealed that the system antifreeze of the plane was activated several times by the pilots during the flight. However, at one point, the aircraft flew for six minutes with an ice warning, without the de-icing system being activated. Civilian experts, shortly after the accident, suggested that ice formation could have contributed to the crash. Cenipa confirmed that the plane actually crossed an area of ​​severe ice and that maintenance records indicated that the aircraft was capable of operating in these conditions.

Causes of Accident Still Under Investigation

Although Cenipa's preliminary report points to a possible relationship between the system failure antifreeze and the accident, the investigation is still ongoing. Cenipa's report does not yet determine the cause of the accident. The lieutenant colonel explained that, for now, the body focused on analyzing the objective facts related to the flight. It is not possible to say that a fault caused the fall. According to Cenipa, the pilots did not report any emergencies during the flight.

Cenipa highlighted that the preliminary report is only an initial analysis of the data collected and that the final report, which will bring definitive conclusions and possible recommendations to avoid similar accidents in the future, should be released at a later date. Cenipa reported that the data collected so far indicates that the system antifreeze of the plane was activated and deactivated several times during the flight. The agency cannot yet determine whether these actions were carried out by the crew or whether there was another condition that disabled the mechanism.

According to Cenipa, no hypothesis has been ruled out so far. The system was deactivated using a button, and the investigation does not yet reveal whether the crew turned it off or whether there was another cause for the deactivation. Cenipa reported that the plane had updated maintenance records. However, this does not guarantee that maintenance was carried out with adequate quality; This issue will still be investigated.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Henrique Baldin, maintenance records were in order, but the effectiveness of maintenance will be analyzed in more detail. At the beginning of the presentation, Cenipa confirmed that the plane had the necessary licenses to fly. Fróes also stated that the technical maintenance records were up to date. The investigation team reviewed technical records in the days before the accident and confirmed they were up to date, according to the documents.

The aircraft was certified for flights in icing conditions and was considered 'airworthy' by investigators. According to the report, the pilots had specific training for flights in icing conditions, carried out in simulators. It was expected that the plane would face an ice formation zone on its route, with severe ice expected between 12,000 and 21,000 feet. This meteorological information was available on the internet", said Fróes.

The plane flew without 'Pack number 1'

It was verified that, in the maintenance records prior to the flight on the 9th, item Pack number 1 was inoperative. This item is part of the pneumatic system responsible for supplying pressurized air to the Pack. The main function of this system is to pressurize the cabin, regulating the air flow for passengers and crew. Furthermore, the Pack also contributes to the aircraft’s air conditioning. With a Pack inoperative, the aircraft must operate at a maximum of 17 thousand feet, which was observed in the flight. Furthermore, the fuel calculation must be based on an altitude of 10,000 feet, instead of 17,000 feet, which was also correctly done.

According to the head of Cenipa, Brigadier Marcelo Moreno, the preliminary report is not intended to attribute blame or criminal responsibility. Its objective is to identify possible factors that may have contributed to the accident and suggest safety measures. The report is based exclusively on the facts related to the accident and does not explore the causes or details of what happened. Only factual data will be presented, as stated by Lieutenant Colonel Paulo Mendes Fróes, the investigator responsible for the accident with the VoePass plane.

Family members and Final Report

Around 70 representatives, including family members and lawyers of the victims, traveled to the federal capital to obtain information about the case. Before the press conference, they were received by the Cenipa team. The accident occurred on August 9th with an ATR 72-500 aircraft, which was carrying out flight 2283 between Cascavel (PR) and Guarulhos (SP). The plane crashed in Vinhedo (SP), approximately 115 km from its destination. All 62 people on board, including passengers and crew, died.

Participating in the press conference are the head of Cenipa, Brigadier Marcelo Moreno; the head of the agency's Investigation and Prevention division, Colonel Henrique Baldin; and the investigator in charge, Lieutenant Colonel Paulo Mendes Fróes.