Early report to show history of Brazil Voepass ATR flight that crashed in August

Fresh details about the last moments of a plane operated by Brazilian regional carrier Voepass could be unveiled in a preliminary report set for release on Friday, as investigators weigh possible contributing factors like icing and maintenance. The report by Brazil's Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) should give a history of the Aug. 9 ATR 72-500 flight that killed 62 when it crashed in Vinhedo, some 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Sao Paulo, industry experts said. A final report by the Brazil-led investigation on the causes of the tragedy could come a year after the doomed flight bound for Sao Paulo's Guarulhos international airport crashed. Air crashes usually occur due to multiple factors. Some experts have cited ice on the wings as a possible contributor to the crash, because warning notices were issued that day for severe icing in the region. An equipment review of the plane on Aug. 8 seen by Reuters didn’t flag any problems related to the de-icing devices. Aviation Herald, a safety publication, reported that the turboprop airplane, which uses turbine engines to turn propellers that move the aircraft, had re-entered service only a month before the crash after being damaged in a tail strike in March. The ATR-72 has been involved in several cases where pilots lost control after ice build up, including one where a plane stalled in 2016 in Norway, but the pilot regained control. In 2010, icing and pilot error were blamed for an Aero Caribbean Flight 883 crash in Cuba, killing 68 people.<br/>