The Preliminary report on the ATR 72-500 icing crash
- Charindra Salgado
- Sep 12, 2024
- 5 min read
On August 9, 2024, a Voepass Airlines ATR 72-500 aircraft, registered as PS-VPB, crashed in Vinhedo, São Paulo, Brazil.
The Brazilian Air Force's Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) released the preliminary report of the air crash investigation on September 6, 2024.
Aircraft Details
Registration marks: PS-VPB
Departure Airport: SBCA — Adalberto Mendes da Silva
Destination airport: SBGR — Governador André Franco Montoro
Operation type: Regular
Flight phase: Cruise
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft category: Civil
Country of registration: Brazil
Year of manufacture: 2010
Manufacturer: ATR — GIE Avions de Transport Régional
ICAO Model: AT75
Model: ATR 72-212A (500)
Maximum takeoff weight: 22,800 kg
Summary: At 14:58 UTC, the aircraft departed from SBCA (Coronel Adalberto Mendes da Silva Airport, Cascavel, State of Paraná) for SBGR (Guarulhos - Governador André Franco Montoro Airport, Guarulhos, State of São Paulo). This was a scheduled public passenger flight with 4 crew members and 58 passengers on board. While en route, the aircraft encountered icing conditions, resulting in a loss of control and subsequent ground impact.
Sequence of events
Based on the information collected during the initial field Investigation and recordings from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), the Investigation Committee identified the sequence of events preceding the aircraft’s collision with the ground. The time reference utilized is UTC (Universal Time Coordinated).
14:58:05 - the aircraft initiated takeoff from runway 15 of SBCA, with 58 passengers and 04 crew on board;
15:12:40 - the PROPELLER ANTI-ICING 1 and 2 were turned on;
15:14:56 - The electronic Ice Detector connected to the Centralized Crew Alert System (CCAS) emitted an alert signal upon passing FL130;
15:15:03 - the AIRFRAME DE-ICING was turned on;
15:15:42 - a single chime was heard in the cockpit. Subsequently, the crew commented on the occurrence of an AIRFRAME DE-ICING Fault;
15:15:49 - the AIRFRAME DE-ICING was turned off;
15:16:25 - The electronic Ice Detector ceased emitting the alert signal.
15:17:08 - The electronic Ice Detector emitted an alert signal.
15:19:13 - The electronic Ice Detector stopped emitting the alert signal;
15:23:43 - The electronic Ice Detector emitted an alert signal;
15:30:05 - The electronic Ice Detector stopped emitting the alert signal.
16:11:02 - The electronic Ice Detector emitted an alert signal;
16:12:41 - The electronic Ice Detector stopped emitting the alert signal;
16:12:55 - The electronic Ice Detector emitted an alert signal;
16:15:16 - the SIC (pilot Second in Command) made radio contact with the airline's operational dispatcher at Guarulhos airport, for coordination of the aircraft arrival;
16:16:25 - At the same time as the SIC’s coordination with the operational dispatcher, a flight attendant called over the intercom. The SIC asked her to hold on a moment and continued speaking with the dispatcher;
16:17:20 - The electronic Ice Detector stopped emitting the alert signal. At this time, the SIC was asking the flight attendant for information that would be passed to the operational dispatcher;
16:17:32 - The electronic Ice Detector emitted an alert signal; at this time, the PIC was informing the passengers about the SBGR local conditions and estimated time of landing;
16:17:41 - the AIRFRAME DE-ICING was turned on;
16:18:41 - at a speed of 191 kt., the CRUISE SPEED LOW alert was triggered. Concomitantly, the SIC was about to finish relaying some information to the operational dispatcher;
16:18:47 - the PIC started the briefing relative to the approach for landing in SBGR. Concomitantly, APP-SP made a radio call, and instructed him to change to frequency 123.25MHz;
16:18:55 – a single chime was heard in the cockpit. At this time, the communication with APP-SP was taking place;
16:19:07 - the AIRFRAME DE-ICING was turned off;
16:19:16 - the crew made a call to APP-SP (São Paulo Approach Control) on the frequency 123.25 MHz;
16:19:19 - APP-SP requested the PS-VPB aircraft to maintain FL170 due to traffic;
16:19:23 - the crew replied to APP-SP that they would maintain flight level and that they were at the ideal point of descent, waiting for clearance;
16:19:28 - at a speed of 184 kt., the DEGRADED PERFORMANCE alert was triggered, together with a single chime. The alert was triggered concomitantly with the exchange of messages between APP-SP and the crew;
16:19:30 - APP-SP acknowledged the message and requested the aircraft to wait for clearance;
16:19:31 - Passaredo 2283 aircraft reported receipt of the message and thanked ATC;
16:19:33 - the PIC resumed delivering the approach briefing;
16:20:00 - the Second in Command (SIC) commented, “a lot of icing”;
16:20:05 - the AIRFRAME DE-ICING was turned on for the third time;
16:20:33 - APP-SP cleared the aircraft to fly directly to SANPA position, maintaining FL170, and informed that the descent would be authorized in two minutes;
16:20:39 - the crew acknowledged the flight instruction received (last communication performed by the flight crew);
16:20:50 - the aircraft started a right turn to fly to the SANPA position.
16:20:57 – during the turn, at a speed of 169 kt., the INCREASE SPEED alert was triggered, in conjunction with a single chime. Immediately afterward, a vibration noise was heard in the aircraft, simultaneously with the activation of the stall alert;
16:21:09 - control of the aircraft was lost, and it entered an abnormal flight attitude until colliding with the ground. The aircraft rolled to the left to a bank angle of 52 degrees, then to the right to a bank angle of 94 degrees, performing a 180-degree turn in a clockwise direction. Subsequently, the turn was reversed to an anticlockwise direction, with the aircraft completing five full rotations in a flat spin before crashing into the ground.
Information on the personnel involved.
Flight Experience | ||
Discrimination | PIC | SIC |
Total | 5.248:50 | 5.143:55 |
Total in the last 30 days | 59:18 | 02:36 |
Total in the last 24 hours | 02:36 | 02:36 |
On this type of aircraft | 665:54 | 3.543:55 |
On this type in the last 30 days | 59:18 | 02:36 |
On this type in the last 24 hours | 02:36 | 02:36 |
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