- Date
- January 9, 2014, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Nashville, TN
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 144 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N966WNBoeing 737 7H4
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Cabin safety event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report September 1, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Case key
- 88662
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A buildup of pressure in the coffee filter package resulting in the release of hot coffee and grounds when the potlocking lever was raised, which resulted in 2nd degree burns.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
While preparing coffee service in the aft galley, the C flight attendant (FA) observed the coffee maker emitting an unusual noise and coffee was pooling on the burner. The FA lifted the potlocking lever on the coffee pot and hot coffee and coffee grounds erupted onto her face, neck, and chest. The flight diverted and landed at Nashville International Airport, Nashville, Tennessee where medical personnel met the flight at the gate. The FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with second-degree burns. In January of 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration issued Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO) 13001, which addressed reported cases of coffee filter packages bursting in flight during coffee preparation, resulting in 1st and 2nd degree burns to flight attendants and bystanders. The SAFO encouraged air carriers and operators to add cautionary instructions and procedures to the Flight Attendant Manual (FAM) and training program, warning crew members of the dangers to personnel and equipment.
Factual narrative
While preparing coffee service in the aft galley, the C flight attendant (FA) observed the coffee maker emitting an unusual noise and coffee was pooling on the burner. The FA lifted the potlocking lever on the coffee pot and hot coffee and coffee grounds erupted onto her face, neck, and chest. The flight diverted and landed at Nashville International Airport, Nashville, Tennessee where medical personnel met the flight at the gate. The FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with second-degree burns. In January of 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration issued Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO) 13001, which addressed reported cases of coffee filter packages bursting in flight during coffee preparation, resulting in 1st and 2nd degree burns to flight attendants and bystanders. The SAFO encouraged air carriers and operators to add cautionary instructions and procedures to the Flight Attendant Manual (FAM) and training program, warning crew members of the dangers to personnel and equipment.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N966WN
- Reported as
- Boeing 737 7H4 (7H4)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 36966
- Built
- 2011
- Engines
- CFM Intl CFM56-7B24E, turbo fanCFM Intl CFM56-7B24E, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Southwest Airlines Co
- Registered owner
- Southwest Airlines Co
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- KIAD · Indianapolis, IN
- Destination
- KRSW · Fort Meyers, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Private, Flight engineer
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1
- Last flight review
- November 2, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 22,700 total · 11,500 in this make and model
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Unknown
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 11,639 total · 5,612 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 70° at 3 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 15,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.31 inHg
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 875 KB in all.