DCA18CA055

NTSB accident investigation · Airbus A321 231 · Fort Lauderdale, FL · December 6, 2017

Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
December 6, 2017, 03:07 UTC
Place
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Injuries
1 serious, 1 minor, 100 uninjured
Damage
No damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N670NKAirbus A321 231
Defining event
Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night
Status
Completed · report June 18, 2018
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Case key
96520

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 convective turbulence that resulted in a flight attendant 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.

Turbulence: convective turbulenceEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnelAirbus A321-231: 4 casesAll aircraft: 145 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 December 6, 2017, about 2207 eastern standard time, Spirit Airlines flight NKS265, an Airbus 321-231, N670NK, encountered turbulence during approach to land at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (KFLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. One flight attendant received a serious injury and the airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Atlantic City International Airport (KACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey, to KFLL. According to the flight crew, the flight encounter the severe turbulence while descending through about 12,000 shortly after entering instrument meteorological conditions. There had been no reports of turbulence in the area and the seat belt sign was activated. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the flight attendants (FA) were conducting their final cabin checks when all five FAs were thrown to the floor. One FA sustained an ankle injury and remained on the floor for the remainder of the flight. After landing, all five FAs were transported to the hospital where the FA was diagnosed with a medial and posterior malleolar facture.

Factual narrative

On December 6, 2017, about 2207 eastern standard time, Spirit Airlines flight NKS265, an Airbus 321-231, N670NK, encountered turbulence during approach to land at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (KFLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. One flight attendant received a serious injury and the airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Atlantic City International Airport (KACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey, to KFLL. According to the flight crew, the flight encounter the severe turbulence while descending through about 12,000 shortly after entering instrument meteorological conditions. There had been no reports of turbulence in the area and the seat belt sign was activated. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the flight attendants (FA) were conducting their final cabin checks when all five FAs were thrown to the floor. One FA sustained an ankle injury and remained on the floor for the remainder of the flight. After landing, all five FAs were transported to the hospital where the FA was diagnosed with a medial and posterior malleolar facture.

Aircraft

Registration
N670NK
Reported as
Airbus A321 231 (231)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
7106
Built
2016
Engines
IAE V2533-A5, 11,990 horsepower, turbo fanIAE V2533-A5, 11,990 horsepower, turbo fan
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
Spirit Airlines Inc
Registered owner
Spirit Airlines Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Departed
ACY · Atlantic City, NJ
Destination
Fort Lauderdale, FL
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
45
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 6, 2017
Seat
Left
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
14,300 total · 3,700 in this make and model · 7,300 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 38 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot
Age
28
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 28, 2017
Seat
Right
Restraint
5-point

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night
Icing
Unknown
Turbulence
Unknown

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 20, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 MB in all.

Other investigations on N670NK · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.