ATR 72 Crash

One Foot in the Gravy

ATR-72 Crash

The recent crash of an ATR-72 aircraft in Brazil has been a tragic event. On August 9, 2024, a Voepass Flight 2283, an ATR-72 twin-engine turboprop, crashed in Vinhedo, São Paulo state, killing all 62 people on board¹². The flight was en route from Cascavel to São Paulo’s main international airport in Guarulhos when it went down. The plane, manufactured in France and Italy by eponymous ATR, is a decent aircraft.

I spent a year in the late 1990s commuting to Grand Rapids, Michigan doing consulting work for one of the three large manufacturers of office furniture. I got to know the ATR-72 quite well. The deicing mechanism was simple but effective. The leading edge of both wings contained a bladder. When ice built up on the leading edge of the wing, it added weight and changed the aerodynamic properties of the wing. To remove the ice, the bladder was filled and broke the ice.

Ice

A few pilots were unaware of, or forgot, how the mechanism worked. If there were icing conditions forecast, these pilots engaged the deicing mechanism on the ground before takeoff to prevent icing. The problem is that once engaged, the bladder became the leading edge of the wing. When ice covered the already-expanded bladder, there was no means to remove it. I think I know what caused the crash in Brazil during icing conditions aloft.

Witnesses reported seeing the plane spiraling downward before it crashed into a residential area, causing a fiery wreck12. Fortunately, no residents on the ground were injured, although one home was damaged².

Investigators are currently working to determine the cause of the crash. Early speculation suggests that icing might have played a role, as the plane’s unusual final motion and the weather conditions at the time indicated the possibility of ice buildup¹². However, it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions, and the investigation is ongoing³².

This incident marks the deadliest airline crash since January 2023, when a similar ATR-72 aircraft crashed in Nepal¹. The recovery of the black boxes will be crucial in understanding what went wrong and preventing future tragedies⁴.

Prior Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has conducted several investigations into crashes involving ATR-72 aircraft in the United States. One notable investigation was the crash of American Eagle Flight 4184 on October 31, 1994, near Roselawn, Indiana¹².

Overview of the Incident

American Eagle Flight 4184, operated by Simmons Airlines, was an ATR-72-212 aircraft. The flight encountered severe icing conditions, which led to an uncommanded roll and subsequent loss of control. The aircraft crashed during a rapid descent, resulting in the tragic loss of all 68 people on board¹².

Key Findings of the Investigation

The NTSB’s investigation revealed several critical factors contributing to the crash:

1. Icing Conditions: The aircraft encountered freezing rain, which led to ice accumulation on the wings and control surfaces. This ice buildup caused a significant change in the aircraft’s aerodynamic characteristics¹.

2. Aileron Behavior: The investigation found that ice accumulation behind the de-ice boots caused the ailerons to become unstable, leading to the uncommanded roll¹.To my knowledge, this means that the ice boots (technical term for the bladders) were already expanded when the aircraft was still on the ground.

3. Communication and Training: The report highlighted deficiencies in communicating hazardous weather information to flight crews and the need for improved training for handling unusual events and attitudes¹.

Safety Recommendations

Based on the findings, the NTSB made several safety recommendations to improve aviation safety:

• Enhanced Weather Information: Improved communication of hazardous weather conditions to flight crews.

• Regulatory Changes: Updates to Federal regulations on aircraft icing and icing certification requirements.

• Aircraft Modifications: Recommendations for modifications to the ATR-72 to address the identified issues with aileron behavior in icing conditions¹².

Impact and Legacy

The Roselawn crash led to significant changes in how icing conditions are managed in aviation. The NTSB’s recommendations prompted updates to aircraft design, pilot training, and weather reporting systems, contributing to improved safety for future flights¹².

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