Pilot Debrief

EMBRAER EMB170 near Norfolk, VA — 2009-07-27

Final reportDCA09FA068
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Date
2009-07-27
Location
Norfolk, VA, USA
Aircraft
EMBRAER EMB170
Registration
N135HQ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

an inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence that resulted in serious injuries to a flight attendant.

NTSB narrative

The captain stated that while climbing through about FL220, the flight encountered turbulence while deviating around a convective cell. According to the flight attendant (FA), the turbulence occurred after the captain had "turned off the sterile cockpit" and she was preparing the beverage service with the lead FA. Both FAs were thrown to the floor with one FA falling on top of the other. As a result, one FA suffered a broken bone in her left foot and the other received minor injuries. The operator stated that the seat belt was illuminated at the time of the turbulence.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Environmental
First missed decision gate
Avoiding flight through areas of known thunderstorms could have prevented turbulence encounter.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • FDR / data
  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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