# NTSB DCA20CA058: Airbus A320, N1902U, New Orleans, LA, January 10, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 10, 2020, 22:45 UTC - Place: New Orleans, LA - Coordinates: 29.960527, -90.079589 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9605&lon=-90.0796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 158 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): 100859 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA20CA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100859/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100859 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20CA058 ## Probable cause an encounter with convectively induced turbulence while overflying an area of known convective activity. ## 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 · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus A320-232, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=3940004), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus A320-232, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3940004), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis On January 10, 2020, at about 2245 universal coordinated time, United Airlines flight 1754, an Airbus A320, N1902U, encountered turbulence near the top of climb from New Orleans International Airport (KMSY), New Orleans, Louisiana. Of the 159 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant sustained serious injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from the KMSY to Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR), Newark, New Jersey. According to the flight crew, they advised the flight attendants (FA) to expect some light turbulence during the climb out, and stated they would leave the seatbelt sign illuminated for passengers until they had reached smooth air. During the climb to their assigned altitude of flight level (FL) 370, the weather radar was active and air traffic control advised of weather directly in front of the flight. As the flight was climbing through about FL 305 , the flight was in clear air but the crew realized they were not going to stay above the clouds ahead of the airplane and requested, and were approved, to deviate to the right to avoid the buildups. During the turn, the captain made an announcement on the public address (PA) system for the FAs to “take their jumpseats” and subsequently encountered “a couple bumps of light chop.” Almost immediately after, they received a call from the cabin, that the purser had been injured. According to the FAs, they were preparing for cabin service when the turbulence was encountered. The forward FA fell to the floor as she was walking through the first-class cabin. Subsequently, the flight crew’s announcement for the “flight attendants take your jump seats” came over the PA system. The injured FA was assisted by medically qualified passengers and remained in a passenger seat for the remainder of the flight. Paramedics met the airplane at the gate and the FA was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured ankle. Post accident examination of the weather data determined that the turbulence was encountered when the airplane was flying over an area of general thunderstorms. Cloud tops up to FL400 were located within 10 miles of the turbulence encounter but there were no pilot reports (PIREPs) in the vicinity indicating turbulence prior to the event. There was a Center Weather Advisory current for the area for isolated thunderstorms, which was included in the flights weather briefing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1902U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1902U), registered now, S/N 2714, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Airbus A320 (232) - Registry model: [Airbus A320-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a320-232) (registry code 3940004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [IAE V2527-A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-v2527-a5) (registry code 34604, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2714 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 40846 - Engines: International Aero Engines V2527-A5 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan; International Aero Engines V2527-A5 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: United Airlines Inc - Registered owner: United Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 29, 2019 - Departed: MSY, New Orleans, LA - Destination: EWR, Newark, NJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MSY, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 12, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 17,828 total, 11,690 in this make and model, 15,917 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days - Co-pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 9, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,638 total, 526 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Day ## Other investigations on N1902U (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 DCA23LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA23LA221), Mar 22, 2023: Airbus A320-232 (N1902U), Houston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The first officer's failure to maintain the correct airspeed and pitch attitude during landing which resulted in a tailstrike. ## Docket (22 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 13, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100859. 34.9 MB in all. - Weather study (item 1, PDF, 41 pages, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9224937&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA20CA058%20-%20Weather%20Study-Rel.pdf - Meteorology attachment 2 - weather document (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9224239&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%202%20-%20Weather%20Document%20issued%20to%20UAL%201754-Rel.pdf - Meteorology attachment 1 - gtgn (item 3, PDF, 10 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10066113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%201%20-%20NCAR%20GTG%20on%20January%2010,%202020-Rel.pdf - Meteorology attachment 3 - wsi high level significant weather chart (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9224857&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%203%20-%20WSI%20High%20Level%20Significant%20Weather%20Prognostic%20Chart-Rel.pdf - Operational factors/human performance group factual report (item 5, PDF, 69 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9946789&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA20CA058%20-%20Operational%20Factors%20Specialist%20Report%20-%20Final-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 1 - flight crew interview transcripts and statements (item 6, PDF, 153 pages, 336 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9832587&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%201%20-%20Crew%20Interview%20Summaries%20and%20Transcripts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 2 - flight attendant and deadhead pilot statements (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9832485&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%202%20-%20Flight%20Attendant%20and%20Deadhead%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 3 - flight crew most recent schedule (item 8, PDF, 2 pages, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9831936&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%203%20-%20Flight%20Crew%20Schedules_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 4 - flight crew training summaries (item 9, PDF, 5 pages, 293 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9832939&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%204%20-%20Flight%20Crew%20Training%20Summaries_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 5 - accident flight dispatch release (item 10, PDF, 42 pages, 318 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9832806&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%205%20-%20Accident%20Flight%20Dispatch%20Release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 6 - acars messages [excerpts] (item 11, PDF, 4 pages, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9832120&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%206%20-%20ACARS%20Messages%20%5BExcerpts%5D_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 7 - archived pireps (item 12, CSV, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9832948&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%207%20-%20Archived%20PIREPs-Rel.csv - Operational factors attachment 8 - united airlines flight operations manual [excerpts] (item 13, PDF, 19 pages, 949 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9831945&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%208%20-%20United%20Airlines%20Flight%20Operations%20Manual%20%5BExcerpts%5D-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 9 - united airlines Airbus 319-320 flight manual [excerpts] (item 14, PDF, 15 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9832658&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%209%20-%20United%20Airlines%20Airbus%20319-320%20Flight%20Manual%20%5BExcerpts%5D-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 10 - united airlines flight attendant operations manual [excerpt] (item 15, PDF, 14 pages, 328 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9832261&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2010%20-%20United%20Airlines%20Flight%20Attendant%20Operations%20Manual%20%5BExcerpt%5D-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 11 - united airlines dispatch operations manual [excerpt] (item 16, PDF, 28 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9832129&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2011%20-%20United%20Airlines%20Dispatch%20Oeprations%20Manual%20%5BExcerpt%5D_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 12 - Airbus optimum use of weather radar (item 17, PDF, 24 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9833019&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2012%20-%20Airbus%20-%20Optimum%20use%20of%20weather%20radar-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 13 - Airbus managing severe turbulence [2019 article] (item 18, PDF, 14 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9832138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2013%20-%20Airbus%20Managing%20Severe%20Turbulence%20%5B2019%20Article%5D-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 14 - Airbus severe turbulence [2005 article] (item 19, PDF, 8 pages, 277 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9832957&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2014%20-%20Airbus%20Managing%20Severe%20Turbulence%20%5B2005%20Article%5D-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 15 - Airbus flight in severe turbulence [article] (item 20, PDF, 18 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9832815&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2015%20-%20Airbus%20Flight%20in%20Severe%20Turbulence%20%5BArticle%5D-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 16 - operational factors group members party forms (item 21, PDF, 3 pages, 9.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9832147&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2016%20-%20Operational%20Factors%20Group%20Members%20Party%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1_correct (item 22, PDF, 11 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11781855&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20FSI%202020-002_1_Redacted-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.