# NTSB CEN10LA189: Embraer ERJ 170-100 SE, N869RW, Runnells, IA, April 3, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 3, 2010, 06:38 local (11:38 UTC) - Place: Runnells, IA - Coordinates: 41.525554, -93.313331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5256&lon=-93.3133&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Clear air turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 29 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Republic Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration - Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75649 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75649/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75649 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA189 ## Probable cause A clear air turbulence encounter during cruise flight, during which an unrestrained cabin flight attendant sustained a hip fracture. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Clear air turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight crew had been advised by air traffic control that there were multiple reports of light-to-moderate turbulence along the intended route of flight. While in cruise flight at 31,000 feet, the captain noted a change in wind direction and speed and subsequently asked the cabin flight attendants to be seated. Shortly after the captain's request, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence before the flight attendants were able to fasten their lap belts. One of the flight attendants was thrown from her seat and sustained a hip fracture and a head contusion. According to flight recorder data, the maximum and minimum vertical accelerations during the turbulence event were 1.902 g and -0.199 g, respectively. The flight continued to its intended destination without further incident. The flight was met by paramedics who transported the injured flight attendant to a local hospital for treatment. ## Factual narrative On April 3, 2010, at 0638 central daylight time, an Embraer ERJ 170-100 SE, N869RW, operated as Republic Airlines Flight 1501, encountered moderate clear-air turbulence while in cruise flight at 31,000 feet (FL 310) over Runnells, Iowa. A cabin flight attendant, who was seated but unrestrained, sustained a hip fracture and a head contusion during the turbulence encounter. The commercial flight was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 while on an instrument flight plan. The remaining flight crewmembers and 26 passengers were not injured. The flight departed Eppley Field (KOMA), Omaha, Nebraska, at 0540 and was enroute to General Mitchell International Airport (KMKE), Milwaukee, Wisconsin. According to Republic Airlines, air traffic control had issued multiple advisories for light-to-moderate turbulence during the accident flight. The flight encountered light-to-moderate turbulence between 29,000 feet and its assigned cruise altitude of 31,000 feet. While in cruise flight, the captain noted a change in wind direction/speed and subsequently asked the cabin flight attendants to be seated. Shortly after the captain’s request, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence before the flight attendants were able to fasten their lap belts. The injured flight attendant was thrown from her seat and sustained a hip fracture and a head contusion. According to flight recorder data, the maximum and minimum vertical accelerations during the turbulence event were 1.902 g and -0.199 g, respectively. The flight continued to its intended destination without further incident. The flight was met by paramedics who transported the injured flight attendant to a local hospital for treatment. ## Aircraft - Registration: N869RW (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: EMBRAER ERJ 170-100 SE - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17000133 - Airframe hours: 9495 - Engines: General Electric CF34-8E5 14510 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric CF34-8E5 14510 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Republic Airlines, doing business as Midwest Airlines - Registered owner: Shuttle America Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 21, 2010 - Departed: KOMA, Omaha, NE - Destination: KMKE, Milwaukee, WI - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 7,500 total, 2,500 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 18, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 2,650 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: KDSM, 14 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 20100403031959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100403031959A), Apr 3, 2010: Embraer ERJ 170-100, Runnells, IA, No damage. Republic airlines flight nr 1501 enroute from oma to mke in level cruise at FL 310 encountered turbulence resulting in a net verticle acceleration of 2.1G at… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75649. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329517&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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.