# Accident 20110516012309A: Bombardier Inc DHC-8-402, Baltimore, MD, May 16, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 16, 2011, 14:49 local time
- Place: Baltimore, MD
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: NSVA
- Location: 39.2856° N, 76.6058° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2856&lon=-76.6058&mi=10
- Aircraft: N351NG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N351NG-2015-05-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bombardier DHC-8-402 (registry code 1390042, https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-dhc-8-402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A (registry code 52167, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw150a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOMBARDIER INC DHC-8-402
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PW150A
- People aboard: 41
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 4,250 total, 1,711 in this make and model, 176 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DCA11CA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA11CA070) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110516012309A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MAY 16, 2011 COLGAN AIR FLIGHT 3261 WAS OPERATING FROM EWR TO DCA.  WHILE ENROUTE, THE CREW WAS TALKING TO POTOMAC APPROACH, ABOUT 40 MILES NORTH OF BWI, WHILE DESCENDING BETWEEN 14,000 AND 13,000 MSL.  THE FIRST OFFICER HAD JUST SWITCHED TO RADIO #2 AND WAS TALKING TO THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS (FA'S) (FINDING OUT IF THEY HAD ANY SPECIAL NEEDS PASSENGERS AND ADVISING THEM THAT THE FLIGHT WAS 20 MINUTES OUT FROM LANDING), AND ALSO CALLING DCA OPERATIONS ABOUT A GATE ASSIGNMENT.  THE FIRST OFFICER HAD JUST BEGUN BRIEFING THE PASSENGERS ABOUT THE ARRIVAL TIME.  THE FA HAD JUST FINISHED DOING BEVERAGE SERVICE AND HAD STOWED THE GALLED SERVICE CARTS.  THE FA'S WERE IN THE AFT GALLEY GETTING A PASSENGER A CUP OF COFFEE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE.  THE TURBULENCE CAUSED FA ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TO BE THROWN THROUGHOUT THE GALLEY.  SHE GRABBED THE HANDLE ABOVE THE FA JUMPSEAT TO STEADY HERSELF AND THEN WAS THRUST INTO THE AIR AND LANDED ON THE FLOOR.  SHE HEARD A "POP" FROM HER FOOT WHICH HAD TURNED INWARD CAUSING HER FOOT TO BREAK.  FA ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS ASSISTED TO SEAT 19B AND ADMINISTERED ICE DUE TO THE SWELLING IN HER ANKLE.  FA ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ NOTIFIED THE FLIGHT CREW OF THE OCCURRENCE AND THEY CALLED FOR PARAMEDICS TO MEET THE FLIGHT IN DCA.  FA ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SHE BROKE HER RIGHT FOOT.THE FLIGHT WAS VERY SMOOTH PRIOR TO DESCENDING BETWEEN 14,000 AND 13,000 FT MSL.  THE UNEXPECTED TURBULENCE WAS FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY MODERATE AND SUSTAINED TURBULENCE.  THE FLIGHT WAS SO SMOOTH THAT THE TURBULENCE CAME UNEXPECTEDLY AND THE CREW HAD NO TIME TO PREPARE.  THE FLIGHT CREW HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY PIREPS, NOTAMS, OR REPORTS OF FORECASTED TURBULENCE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DCA11CA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA11CA070), May 16, 2011: De Havilland DHC8 (N351NG), Baltimore, MD, no damage. Probable cause: an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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