# NTSB DCA18CA219: Boeing 787-9, N826AN, Harbin, China, June 11, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 11, 2018
- Place: Harbin, China
- Coordinates: 45.375, 126.151107 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3750&lon=126.1511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 290 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 8, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 97504
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA18CA219
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97504/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97504
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18CA219

## Probable cause

the accidental tipping over of a beverage service cart, when there was no turbulence, which caused pots of hot water to burn two flight attendants.

## 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 787-9, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=1385609), [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.

- [Enroute: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 787-9, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=1385609), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On June 10, 2018, at about 1215 local time, American Airlines 181, N826AN, B787-9, was enroute to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Beijing, China, when two flight attendants were burned as a result of a beverage cart tray being overturned with three pots of hot liquids on it. At the time of the event, the airplane was in smooth air with no turbulence. Of the 292 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant received minor injuries and one flight attendant received serious injuries. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California to PEK. The crew reported that the two injured flight attendants were in the aft galley setting up the beverage cart when the cart overturned. The injured flight attendants were treated by a passenger physician. Paramedics met the airplane at the gate and one flight attendant was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with 2nd degree burns and released.

## Factual narrative

On June 10, 2018, at about 1215 local time, American Airlines 181, N826AN, B787-9, was enroute to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Beijing, China, when two flight attendants were burned as a result of a beverage cart tray being overturned with three pots of hot liquids on it. At the time of the event, the airplane was in smooth air with no turbulence. Of the 292 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant received minor injuries and one flight attendant received serious injuries. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California to PEK. The crew reported that the two injured flight attendants were in the aft galley setting up the beverage cart when the cart overturned. The injured flight attendants were treated by a passenger physician. Paramedics met the airplane at the gate and one flight attendant was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with 2nd degree burns and released.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N826AN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N826AN), registered now, S/N 40649, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 787-9 (9)
- Registry model: [Boeing 787-9](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-787-9) (registry code 1385609) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE GENX-1B74/75/ series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-genx-1b74-75-series) (registry code 30222, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 40649
- Year built: 2017
- Airframe hours: 4519
- Engines: General Electric GENX1B-75P2 turbo fan; General Electric GENX1B-75P2 turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines Inc
- Registered owner: American Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: June 10, 2018
- Departed: KLAX, Los Angeles, CA
- Destination: ZBAA, Beijing
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 18, 2018; flight hours: 7,129 total, 708 in this make and model, 2,415 as pilot in command, 161.1 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 12.5 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 57; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 17, 2018; flight hours: 717 total, 39 in this make and model, 71.3 in the last 90 days, 71.3 in the last 30 days, 12.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97504. 623 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 623 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486652&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.

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