DCA16CA205

NTSB accident investigation · Airbus A321 231 · Bermuda, Bermuda · July 28, 2016

Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 28, 2016, 01:11 local (05:11 UTC)
Place
Bermuda, Bermuda
Injuries
1 serious, 6 uninjured
Damage
No damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N913JBAirbus A321 231
Defining event
Enroute: Turbulence encounter
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night
Status
Completed · report January 23, 2017
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Case key
93747

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

an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence.

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.

Turbulence: clear air turbulenceEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnelAirbus A321-231: 3 casesAll aircraft: 78 casesProbable cause

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

On July 28, 2016, at 0111 eastern daylight time, JetBlue Airways as flight 1561, an Airbus A321, N913JB, experienced turbulence during cruise that resulted in one flight attendant sustaining a serious injury. There were no injuries to the other passengers and crew aboard and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Queens, New York to Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI), Christchurch, Barbados. The flight diverted to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), San Juan, Puerto Rico . According to the operator, aircraft encountered turbulence during cruise while the flight attendant (FA) at position #4 was carrying a pot of hot water from the aft galley towards one of the aft lavatories. The FA stated that she held on to the galley counter with her right hand and swung the coffee pot in her left towards the jumpseat away from another flight attendant. She stated that the aircraft experienced another sudden drop and the water in the pot flew up in the air and landed on her left shoulder and left side resulting in second-degree burns. The flight crew indicated that at the time of the event the weather conditions were mostly clear, but had encountered short segments of instrument weather conditions as forecasted with no associated turbulence or precipitation. They indicated that they had been actively using the onboard weather radar, but there were no returns that led to deviations. The first officer stated that the turbulence was sudden, with no other associated rain or precipitation and then immediately calm again, so no actions were taken. The operator indicated that the flight data from the Quick Access Recorder (QAR) showed smooth conditions prior to the turbulence encounter.

Factual narrative

On July 28, 2016, at 0111 eastern daylight time, JetBlue Airways as flight 1561, an Airbus A321, N913JB, experienced turbulence during cruise that resulted in one flight attendant sustaining a serious injury. There were no injuries to the other passengers and crew aboard and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Queens, New York to Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI), Christchurch, Barbados. The flight diverted to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), San Juan, Puerto Rico . According to the operator, aircraft encountered turbulence during cruise while the flight attendant (FA) at position #4 was carrying a pot of hot water from the aft galley towards one of the aft lavatories. The FA stated that she held on to the galley counter with her right hand and swung the coffee pot in her left towards the jumpseat away from another flight attendant. She stated that the aircraft experienced another sudden drop and the water in the pot flew up in the air and landed on her left shoulder and left side resulting in second-degree burns. The flight crew indicated that at the time of the event the weather conditions were mostly clear, but had encountered short segments of instrument weather conditions as forecasted with no associated turbulence or precipitation. They indicated that they had been actively using the onboard weather radar, but there were no returns that led to deviations. The first officer stated that the turbulence was sudden, with no other associated rain or precipitation and then immediately calm again, so no actions were taken. The operator indicated that the flight data from the Quick Access Recorder (QAR) showed smooth conditions prior to the turbulence encounter.

Aircraft

Registration
N913JB
Reported as
Airbus A321 231 (231)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
5909
Built
2013
Engines
IAE V2533-A5, 11,990 horsepower, turbo fanIAE V2533-A5, 11,990 horsepower, turbo fan
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
JetBlue
Registered owner
JetBlue
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Departed
JFK · New York, NY
Destination
BGI · Seawell, Christ Church
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
50
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 29, 2016
Seat
Left
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
13,450 total · 7,000 in this make and model · 3,100 as pilot in command
Role
Co-pilot
Age
38
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 29, 2016
Seat
Right
Restraint
5-point

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night
Altimeter
29.89 inHg
Turbulence
Moderate

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 24, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.6 MB in all.