The plane belonging to the airline Voepass (formerly Passaredo) that crashed in Vinhedo (SP), in the early afternoon of this Friday (9), killing 61 people, is the biggest air accident in the country since 2007, when the tragedy with a plane killed 199 people. The causes of the accident are still under investigation and the final report could take years to be completed, depending on the integrity of the black box data and flight systems. According to experts, one factor that may have led to the crash is the formation of ice on the aircraft’s wings.
Celso Faria de Souza, an aviation expert and criminal expert from the state of Goiás who works in the Forensic Engineering Section, explains that aircraft use a de-icing system, which removes ice from the aircraft’s wings and restores the full functioning of flight systems, or a system called anti-ice, which prevents ice from forming but is typically only used on large, modern aircraft. In the case of the Voepass aircraft, the system was de-icing, also known as de-icing.
The plane, which was carrying 57 passengers and four crew members, left the city of Cascavel, in Paraná, bound for Guarulhos Airport, in SP. According to Celso, what may have happened to the aircraft is the formation of ice on the wings and controls in such a way as to affect the flight characteristics, resulting in a loss of lift that leads to an uncontrolled loss of altitude.
Ice formation is common at high altitudes due to the drop in temperature that occurs in the higher layers of the atmosphere. At the top of the troposphere, where airplanes travel, temperatures can reach -60°C. Therefore, it is not uncommon for aircraft to have systems to combat or prevent ice formation.
“It could have been a malfunction in flight that prevented the system from working properly. Lack of maintenance is something that, in this type of aircraft, is practically non-existent on commercial airlines,” he says. “Maintenance on airlines is extremely regulated. Pilots also go through simulators with complex situations involving system failures. There are also mechanics with increasingly complex training and systems that are increasingly supervising everyone. This creates a barrier that prevents this type of situation from occurring. The system is very safe.”
Felipe Bonsenso, founder of the Association of Aircraft Reseller Companies and the Bonsenso Advogados law firm, highlights the widespread mobilization of the aviation industry after accidents like the one that occurred in Vinhedo. “When an accident happens, it moves the entire aviation industry, not only in Brazil, but worldwide,” he said.
According to the expert, investigative bodies, such as the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa), play a crucial role in providing answers to society and preventing future occurrences, based on the detailed reports that result from these investigations. Accidents like this, he says, can be caused by things as small as a screw, which, during flight, causes problems that lead to the crash.
The investigation into the accident in Vinhedo will involve representatives from the maintenance company responsible, the aircraft manufacturer and the French aviation authority, since the aircraft was manufactured in France. “The investigation of aircraft accidents, the final report, can take years, up to five years to be released,” he commented, emphasizing the importance of understanding the causes to prevent similar situations from happening again.
In addition, the regulation and supervision of aircraft maintenance will also be assessed. If a failure in the aircraft’s navigation system is proven, this could lead to a review of maintenance practices. “We will question whether this aircraft underwent maintenance correctly, whether it was up to date with its airworthiness,” said Bonsenso.
An investigation like this could lead to significant changes in the way aircraft are operated and inspected, or even lead to restrictions on the use of a specific aircraft model, as happened with Boeing. Accidents involving the 737 Max model caused the deaths of more than 300 people, causing the company to ground its entire fleet of this model.
Source: CNN Brasil

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