Understand the step-by-step investigation into the Voepass plane crash

Investigations into the crash of the Voepass plane in Vinhedo (SP) involve agencies of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and the Federal Police (PF). The tragedy in the interior of São Paulo, last Friday (09), killed 62 people.

The investigators’ work can take months and involves several stages of expertise, preparation and presentation of a report, as well as assessment of causes and responsibilities.

At the end of the process, depending on the results, there may be legal representations. Understand below how the steps of this process work.

1st Phase: Expertise

When an airplane accident occurs, the search for the black box is a priority after the rescue of possible survivors. This “initial action” is conducted by the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (Cenipa), linked to the FAB.

In the current investigation, the agency relies on a French agency that is helping to investigate the plane crash in Vinhedo (SP).

The agency says that international agents are helping in the search for parts of the plane, which can be analyzed by experts, since the aircraft was manufactured in France. A Canadian agency, the country of origin of the engine, also worked at the scene of the accident.

The São Paulo Civil Police are also participating in this stage of the investigation. The institution opened an inquiry to determine the causes of the incident and helped identify the victims’ bodies. Drone footage was captured by the São Paulo police and may help solve the case.

According to the FAB, the two flight recorders, popularly known as black boxes, were found among the wreckage of the accident. The black boxes are transferred to the Flight Recorder Data Reading and Analysis Laboratory (LABDATA) of Cenipa, in Brasília.

The FAB also reported that the data preparation, extraction and recording work was successfully carried out by Cenipa investigators.

However, the CNN found that the Voepass plane was operating with authorization to stop recording eight pieces of flight information in the aircraft’s black box. According to pilot and aeronautical engineer Jorge Leal Medeiros, this could compromise the investigation into the accident in Vinhedo.

The expert analysis of the recorders must meet the parameters required by the Cenipa Investigation Committee.

The validation work is carried out using physical and logical technological resources, associated with documentation relating to updates to services, components and sensors present in the aircraft involved in the accident.

2nd Phase: Data Analysis

In the second phase of the investigation, data analysis work begins. This stage will analyze the activities related to the flight, the context of the operational environment in which the accident occurred, and human factors.

The analysis phase also aims to delve deeper into the components, equipment, systems and infrastructure involved in the accident. At the end of this stage, the Preliminary Report is produced with factual data on the aircraft accident. This first report is expected to be delivered within 30 days.

3rd Phase: Final Report

In the final stage of the investigations conducted by the FAB agency, the Final Report is presented and published on the Cenipa website. In a statement, the FAB informs that “the conclusion of this investigation will take place as soon as possible, always depending on the complexity of the occurrence”.

The Cenipa investigation is not criminal or punitive in nature. The report helps prevent new occurrences of this type, promoting advances in aeronautical protocols and, possibly, in aircraft manufacturing.

Source: CNN Brasil

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