# NTSB DCA17CA071: Bombardier DHC 8 311, N838CA, Dulles, VA, February 13, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 13, 2017, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Dulles, VA
- Coordinates: 38.953056, -77.45639 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9531&lon=-77.4564&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 March 9, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94745
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA17CA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94745/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94745
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA17CA071

## Probable cause

an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Bombardier DHC-8-311, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1390010), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/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: [Bombardier DHC-8-311, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1390010), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On February 13, 2017, at 1115 eastern standard time, a Bombardier DHC-8, operated by Commutair as a scheduled flight from Fayetteville, North Carolina, to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), encountered turbulence resulting in a serious injury to the flight attendant. The airplane was not damaged and there were no other injuries. According to the operator, the flight was in smooth conditions during the cruise portion and initial descent. The Captain stated that as he finished the before-landing checklist at 4,000 feet, approximately 50 miles south of IAD, the flight encountered a "pocket" of moderate turbulence resulting in a descent rate of about 600 feet per minute and an altitude loss of about 400 feet. The Captain called to the cabin to check on the passengers and the flight attendant reported she injured her leg and could not walk. The flight attendant reported that she was in the final stages of preparing the cabin for landing when the turbulence occurred. Passengers assisted her until landing and paramedics met the aircraft at the gate. The flight attendant was diagnosed with a broken ankle.

## Factual narrative

On February 13, 2017, at 1115 eastern standard time, a Bombardier DHC-8, operated by Commutair as a scheduled flight from Fayetteville, North Carolina, to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), encountered turbulence resulting in a serious injury to the flight attendant. The airplane was not damaged and there were no other injuries. According to the operator, the flight was in smooth conditions during the cruise portion and initial descent. The Captain stated that as he finished the before-landing checklist at 4,000 feet, approximately 50 miles south of IAD, the flight encountered a "pocket" of moderate turbulence resulting in a descent rate of about 600 feet per minute and an altitude loss of about 400 feet. The Captain called to the cabin to check on the passengers and the flight attendant reported she injured her leg and could not walk. The flight attendant reported that she was in the final stages of preparing the cabin for landing when the turbulence occurred. Passengers assisted her until landing and paramedics met the aircraft at the gate. The flight attendant was diagnosed with a broken ankle.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N838CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N838CA-2020-11-12), registration cancelled 2020-11-12, S/N 527, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOMBARDIER INC DHC 8 311 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Bombardier DHC-8-311](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-dhc-8-311) (registry code 1390010) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw123) (registry code 52129, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 527
- Year built: 1998
- Airframe hours: 35111.18
- Engines: P&W CANADA PW123 turbo prop; P&W CANADA PW123 turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Commutair
- Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank Northwest,
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: January 30, 2017
- Departed: KFAY, Fayettville, NC
- Destination: KIAD, Dulles, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KIAD, Washington Dulles Internationa
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review March 25, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,094 total, 1,414 in this make and model
- Co-pilot; age 25; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 14, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,407 total, 405 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Icing: Unknown

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94745. 601 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 601 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458905&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.