# NTSB DCA18CA102: Airbus A330 323, N817NW, Minneapolis, MN, February 24, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 24, 2018, 12:58 local (18:58 UTC) - Place: Minneapolis, MN - Coordinates: 44.884723, -93.215553 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8847&lon=-93.2156&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, 2 minor, 295 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 8, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 96802 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA18CA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96802/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96802 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18CA102 ## 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: [Airbus A330-323, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=3940030), [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: [Airbus A330-323, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3940030), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis On February 24, 2018, at about 1258 central standard time, Delta Air Lines flight 2023, an Airbus A330-323, N817NW, encountered turbulence while descending enroute to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), Minneapolis, Minnesota. Of the 298 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant sustained serious injuries and two flight attendants sustained minor injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Orlando International Airport (MCO), Orlando, Florida, to MSP. According to the flight crew, air traffic control indicated that there were no pilot reports of significant turbulence from preceding airplanes along their descent route. However, the flight encountered severe turbulence as it was descending through about flight level 200. The seatbelt sign was illuminated. When the turbulence was encountered, the flight attendants were beginning their cabin preparations for landing and the flight attendants were thrown to the floor. One flight attendant was thrown against the 4R door, striking her head and back. After landing, the injured flight attendant was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a fractured vertebrae. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N817NW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N817NW), registered now, S/N 0843, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A330 323 (323) - Registry model: [Airbus A330-323](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a330-323) (registry code 3940030) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PW4168A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pw4168a) (registry code 51510, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0843 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 49218 - Engines: P & W PW4168A 68600 lbs thrust turbo fan; P & W PW4168A 68600 horsepower turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Delta Air Lines - Registered owner: Delta Air Lines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 23, 2018 - Departed: MCO, Orlando, FL - Destination: MSP, Minneapolis, MN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MSP, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold- - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review February 4, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 24,184 total, 7,181 in this make and model, 125 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 51; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review June 10, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 12,764 total, 3,137 in this make and model, 177 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 12 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KMSP ## Other investigations on N817NW (1) 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. - [NTSB DCA19WA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA19WA020), Oct 31, 2018: Airbus A330 (N817NW), Paris, France, minor damage ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96802. 713 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 486 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Cabin Crew Statements - 1 (item 2, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cabin%20Crew%20Statements%20-%201-Master.PDF - Cabin Crew Statements - 2 (item 3, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cabin%20Crew%20Statements%20-%202-Master.PDF - Cabin Crew Statements - 3 (item 4, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cabin%20Crew%20Statements%20-%203-Master.PDF - Cabin Crew Statements - 4 (item 5, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cabin%20Crew%20Statements%20-%204-Master.PDF - Cabin Crew Statements - 5 (item 6, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cabin%20Crew%20Statements%20-%205-Master.PDF - Cabin Crew Statements - 6 (item 7, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cabin%20Crew%20Statements%20-%206-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.