# NTSB DCA16CA208: Embraer ERJ 170 100 SE, N655RW, Cleveland, OH, July 26, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 26, 2016, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Cleveland, OH - Coordinates: 41.409442, -81.854721 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4094&lon=-81.8547&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 52 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 23, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 93767 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA16CA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93767/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93767 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA16CA208 ## Probable cause an inadvertent encounter with turbulence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Embraer ERJ 170-100 SE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=3260406), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Embraer ERJ 170-100 SE, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3260406), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis On July 26, 2016 at 5:00 pm eastern daylight time, Republic Airlines flight 3458, an Embraer 170, N655RW, encountered turbulence during descent at about 16,500 feet. Of the 53 passengers and crew members onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured and the airplane was not damaged. The airplane was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Houston, Texas, to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Cleveland, Ohio. The flight crew reported that on initial check in with CLE approach control, the controller advised of moderate turbulence. The first officer was in the process of notifying the cabin when the aircraft encountered turbulence. The crew reported the duration of the turbulence was only a few seconds. One flight attendant working in the aft galley fell and broke her left tibia. A medical doctor on board assisted the flight attendant. The flight crew notified operations to have EMS meet the flight and the airplane landed with no further incident. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 2016 at 5:00 pm eastern daylight time, Republic Airlines flight 3458, an Embraer 170, N655RW, encountered turbulence during descent at about 16,500 feet. Of the 53 passengers and crew members onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured and the airplane was not damaged. The airplane was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Houston, Texas, to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Cleveland, Ohio. The flight crew reported that on initial check in with CLE approach control, the controller advised of moderate turbulence. The first officer was in the process of notifying the cabin when the aircraft encountered turbulence. The crew reported the duration of the turbulence was only a few seconds. One flight attendant working in the aft galley fell and broke her left tibia. A medical doctor on board assisted the flight attendant. The flight crew notified operations to have EMS meet the flight and the airplane landed with no further incident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N655RW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N655RW), registered now, S/N 17000105, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EMBRAER ERJ 170 100 SE (100SE) - Registry model: [Embraer ERJ 170-100 SE](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-erj-170-100-se) (registry code 3260406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-series) (registry code 30015, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17000105 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 31137 - Engines: GE CF34-8E 5000 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF34-8E 5000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Republic Airways Holdings, doing business as United Airlines - Registered owner: Republic Airways Holdings - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: May 15, 2016 - Departed: KIAH, Houston, TX - Destination: KCLE, Cleveland, OH - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KCLE, Cleveland-Hopkins Internationa - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point - Co-pilot; age 25; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: CLE ## 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 20160726011589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160726011589A), Jul 26, 2016: Embraer ERJ 170-100 SE, Cleveland, OH, No damage. On July 27, 2016, about 1700 eastern standard time (EST) (2200Z), republic airlines, inc., flight 3458, an Embraer 170-100, N655RW, experienced unanticipated… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 24, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93767. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448597&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.