# NTSB DCA17CA005: Boeing 737-8H4, N8324A, Denver, CO, October 5, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 5, 2016, 17:25 local (23:25 UTC) - Place: Denver, CO - Coordinates: 39.861667, -104.673057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8617&lon=-104.6731&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) not oper: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 178 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 6, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 94180 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA17CA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94180/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94180 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA17CA005 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Cabin crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8H4, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=138440A), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) not oper: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8H4, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=138440A), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8324A), registered now, S/N 35966, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 737-8H4 (8H4) - Registry model: [Boeing 737-8H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-8h4) (registry code 138440A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B27E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b27e-series) (registry code 13078, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 35966 - Year built: 2012 - Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B27E; CFM 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 ## Weather - Conditions: Dusk ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 16, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94180. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482494&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Crew Statements (item 2, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482495&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Crew%20Statements%20-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.