# NTSB DCA18CA303: Embraer EMB120, N233SW, 40 nm vicinity south of Lake Jackson, TX, September 20, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 20, 2018, 18:30 UTC
- Place: 40 nm vicinity south of Lake Jackson, TX
- Coordinates: 29.034444, -95.446388 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0344&lon=-95.4464&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 98472
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA18CA303
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98472/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98472
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18CA303

## Probable cause

an encounter with severe turbulence, which caused the improperly secured cargo to shift and damage the airplane floor structure.

## Findings

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

- [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Embraer EMB-120ER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=3260203), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md)
- [Loading](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011500): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Embraer EMB-120ER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011500/cases.md?model=3260203), [All aircraft, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011500/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Embraer EMB-120ER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3260203), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On September 20, 2018, about 1830 UTC, a Berry Aviation Inc. Embraer EMB-120ER, N233SW, found substantial damage to the cargo area after arriving at Queretaro International Airport (MMQT), Queretaro, Mexico. The two flight crew members were not injured. The flight was being operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 international cargo flight from Shreveport Regional Airport (KSHV), Shreveport, Louisiana, to MMQT. While in cruise flight in Houston, Texas, airspace, the flight crew noticed a storm cell on the weather radar, however, they continued on their routing since they would stay south of the storm. While passing the storm, they encountered severe turbulence for a short period of time. The flight crew notified ATC of the location of the severe turbulence and continued the flight. Upon arrival at MMQT, the flight crew entered the cargo area where they noticed several panels had fallen and were hanging from their attachment points. Further maintenance inspection revealed buckling to four fuselage frames and four floor support structures that covered an area several feet long. The damage was classified as substantial as it would adversely affect the structural strength of the fuselage. The flight crew reported they picked up four pallets of cargo at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (CYHM), Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Two of the pallets were loaded in zone 2 and two were loaded into zone 3. The pallets were secured with vertical cargo nets. The flight crew departed CYHM at 1322 UTC and arrived at KSHV at 1657 to clear US customs and to take on fuel. They departed KSHV at 1727 UTC for MMQT. After the accident, the operator reminded flight crews to fly 5 or more miles away from thunderstorm cells identified on the weather radar and to secure cargo better to decrease the likelihood that it will shift during turbulence encounters.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N233SW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N233SW), registered now, S/N 120.307, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Embraer EMB120 (ER)
- Registry model: [Embraer EMB-120ER](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-emb-120er) (registry code 3260203) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw118) (registry code 52116, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 120307
- Year built: 1995
- Airframe hours: 44386.7
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118; Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Berry Aviation
- Registered owner: Berry Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: September 4, 2018
- Departed: KSHV, Shreveport, LA
- Destination: MMQT, Queretaro, OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,628 total, 1,975 in this make and model, 751 as pilot in command, 188 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 46; injuries: none; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 2, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,440 total, 201 in this make and model, 1,202 as pilot in command, 171 in the last 90 days, 87 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20180920016379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180920016379A), Sep 20, 2018: Embraer EMB-120ER, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft with four containers of cargo departed Houston airport (kshv) enroute to Mexico airport (mmqt). Just outside of Houston, Texas the aircraft…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98472. 3.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 452 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9338757&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Aircraft%20N233SW-Rel.pdf
- Pictures of floor damage (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9338907&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N233SW%20Floor%20Damage%20sheet%2001-Rel.pdf
- Second set of pictures of damage done to floor (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9338459&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N233SW%20Floor%20Damage%20sheet%2002-Rel.pdf
- Pictures of damage to upper fuselage (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 934 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9339104&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N233SW%20Upper%20Fuselage%20Damage%20sheet%2001-Rel.pdf
- Second set of photos of damage to upper fuselage (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 273 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9338909&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N233SW%20Upper%20Fuselage%20Damage%20sheet%2002-Rel.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.