# NTSB CEN09LA461: Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De ERJ 170-20, N120HQ, Indianapolis, IN, July 11, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 2009, 10:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place: Indianapolis, IN
- Coordinates: 39.911945, -86.067497
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9119&lon=-86.0675&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 83 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-Indianapolis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74362
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA461
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74362/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74362
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA461

## Probable cause

The passenger's failure to comply with crewmember instructions to remain seated while the airplane was in turbulent weather conditions, resulting in an injury to the passenger.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De ERJ 170-200 LR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=3260121), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md)
- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De ERJ 170-200 LR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=3260121), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md)
- [Communication (personnel): following instructions](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De ERJ 170-200 LR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537/cases.md?model=3260121), [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De ERJ 170-200 LR, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3260121), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While on final approach to the destination airport, the airplane was in light turbulence with occasional moderate turbulence. Flight and cabin crew reports of the event indicated that several announcements had been made instructing passengers to remain seated with their seat belts fastened for the remainder of the flight and that the fasten seat belt signs were illuminated. After these instructions were given, a passenger elected to leave his seat to use the lavatory. While returning to his seat after using the lavatory, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence and the passenger fell. He suffered a broken ankle.

## Factual narrative

On July 11, 2009, about 1010 eastern daylight time, a passenger aboard N120HQ, an Embraer ERJ-170-20, received a broken ankle when the airplane encountered turbulence while approaching to land at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND), Indianapolis, Indiana. The airplane received no damage. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 121 flight was being operated by Republic Airlines as flight 3143. The flight was operating in instrument meteorological conditions and was on an instrument flight rules flight plan. None of the other passengers or crew were injured. The flight originated from the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington, D.C. at 0835. According to a report filed by the operator, the airplane was on final approach about 15 nautical miles northeast of IND at an altitude of 6,000 feet above mean sea level when the accident occurred. The report stated that the airplane was in continuous light turbulence with occasional moderate turbulence being encountered. The seat belt sign was illuminated. According to a report by one of the cabin attendants, the captain had announced on three separate occasions to remain seated prior to the accident. She stated that the passenger left his seat to use the lavatory and she instructed him to return to his seat and fasten his seat belt. At this time the passenger complied. She stated that about 4 - 5 minutes later, the passenger again left his seat to use the lavatory. She again informed him that it was not safe to be out of his seat and that he needed to return to his seat. The passenger did not comply and entered the lavatory. When returning to his seat, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence and the passenger fell. The captain's report stated that the seat belt sign was illuminated and he had made three separate announcements that turbulence was expected and that passengers needed to remain in their seats with their seat belts fastened for the remainder of the flight. He also commented that he had instructed the flight attendants to remain in their seats when the airplane was about 100 miles from IND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N120HQ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N120HQ), registered now, S/N 17000193, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EMBRAER-EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE ERJ 170-20
- Registry model: [Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De ERJ 170-200 LR](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-empresa-brasileira-de-erj-170-200-lr) (registry code 3260121) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CF34-8E5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-8e5) (registry code 30061, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17000193
- Airframe hours: 4581
- Engines: GE CF34-8E5 13800 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF34-8E5 13800 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Republic Airline Inc
- Registered owner: Republic Airline Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 8, 2009
- Departed: DCA, Washington, DC
- Destination: IND, Indianapolis, IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IND, Indianapolis International

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 7, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 11,898 total, 2,159 in this make and model, 9,281 as pilot in command, 131 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 41; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 14, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 4,097 total, 2,347 in this make and model, 1,660 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: IND, 15 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20090711054029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090711054029A), Jul 11, 2009: Embraer-Emp ERJ 170-200, Ind, IN, No damage. Passenger on republic airlines flight 3143, dca-Ind, July 11, 2009, suffered broken ankle. Passenger was out of seat on approach when aircraft experienced…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74362. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330568&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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