DCA17CA005

NTSB accident investigation · Boeing 737-8H4 · Denver, CO · October 5, 2016

Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
October 5, 2016, 17:25 local (23:25 UTC)
Place
Denver, CO
Injuries
1 serious, 178 uninjured
Damage
No damage
Phase of flight
Standing
Aircraft
N8324ABoeing 737-8H4
Defining event
Standing-engine(s) not oper: Cabin safety event
Weather
Dusk
Status
Completed · report April 6, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Case key
94180

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

the flight attendant losing her balance as she was removing her carry-on baggage resulted in her falling against an arm rest causing the serious injury.

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.

Personnel issuesPersonnel issues › Task performance · Cabin crewBoeing 737-8H4: 3 casesAll aircraft: 137 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 October 5, 2016, at about 1725 MDT, Southwest Airlines flight 3663, Boeing B737-800, N8324A, after arrival into Denver International Airport (KDEN), Denver, Colorado, the "B" position flight attendant lost her balance while retrieving her carryon bag from an overhead bin. The flight attendant fell against a seat arm rest near her right rib area. She was examined by paramedics and later escorted to a local hospital for further evaluation. An X-ray identified the flight attendant had sustained a fractured rib. The flight was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 domestic passenger flight from Salt Lake City International Airport (KSLC) , Salt Lake City, Utah, with 2 pilots, 4 flight attendants and 173 passengers on board. After the event, the injured flight attendant stated they had finished their day in Denver and while retrieving her bag from the overhead bin she stepped back and lost her balance. She thought her foot may have caught on the bar underneath a seat. She fell onto a row of seats making contact with an arm rest. She heard a crack in her rib area and it was difficult to breathe. The "C" flight attendant got help, the crew came back and paramedics were called.

Factual narrative

On October 5, 2016, at about 1725 MDT, Southwest Airlines flight 3663, Boeing B737-800, N8324A, after arrival into Denver International Airport (KDEN), Denver, Colorado, the "B" position flight attendant lost her balance while retrieving her carryon bag from an overhead bin. The flight attendant fell against a seat arm rest near her right rib area. She was examined by paramedics and later escorted to a local hospital for further evaluation. An X-ray identified the flight attendant had sustained a fractured rib. The flight was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 domestic passenger flight from Salt Lake City International Airport (KSLC) , Salt Lake City, Utah, with 2 pilots, 4 flight attendants and 173 passengers on board. After the event, the injured flight attendant stated they had finished their day in Denver and while retrieving her bag from the overhead bin she stepped back and lost her balance. She thought her foot may have caught on the bar underneath a seat. She fell onto a row of seats making contact with an arm rest. She heard a crack in her rib area and it was difficult to breathe. The "C" flight attendant got help, the crew came back and paramedics were called.

Aircraft

Registration
N8324A
Reported as
Boeing 737-8H4 (8H4)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
35966
Built
2012
Engines
CFM Intl CFM56-7B27ECFM Intl CFM56-7B27E
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
Southwest Airlines
Registered owner
Southwest Airlines Co
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Departed
KSLT · Salt Lake City, UT
Destination
KDEN · Denver, CO
Airport
KDEN · Denver International Airport

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.

Weather

Conditions
Dusk

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 16, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.8 MB in all.