# NTSB DCA20CA122: Embraer ERJ170, N226NN, Plainfield, IL, July 9, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 9, 2020, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Plainfield, IL
- Coordinates: 41.621667, -88.233333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6217&lon=-88.2333&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, 1 minor, 63 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): 101598
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA20CA122
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101598/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101598
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20CA122

## Probable cause

an encounter with convective turbulence.

## 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: [Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=3260415), [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-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3260415), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On July 9, 2020, at about 1500 central daylight time, Envoy Airlines flight 3880, an Embraer 175, N226NN, encountered turbulence during descent into Chicago O’Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois. One flight attendant sustained serious injuries and one flight attendant sustained minor injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from El Paso International Airport (KELP), El Paso, Texas, to KORD. According to the flight crew, about 10 minutes prior to top of descent, they turned the seatbelt sign on after encountering a small pocket of light turbulence. Shortly after beginning the descent, the flight crew noticed cumulus clouds in the descent/approach path and the first officer (FO) called the flight attendants (FA) to notify them to expect turbulence during the descent. As the flight descended through about 15,000 feet and approaching several cumulus clouds, the FO again called the FAs and told them the flight would hit turbulence in about 60 seconds. Shortly after, when the flight was descending through about 12,500 feet, it encountered two sudden moderate turbulence “bumps”. According to the FAs, after being advised by the FO of the impending turbulence, FA 1 made a public address announcement to the passengers in preparation for landing. Both FAs were collecting trash and completing their compliance checks when the first turbulence hit the airplane, sending both FAs into the air and onto the floor. When the second turbulence event occurred a few seconds later, FA 2 was thrown almost to the ceiling and then onto an armrest, injuring her left arm. FA 2 had to remain on the cabin floor for the remainder of the flight due to her injuries. The flight crew declared an emergency and was given expedited vectors for landing. Paramedics met the airplane at the gate and FA 2 was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a broken arm. FA 1 transported herself to the hospital after the flight and was examined and released with minor injuries.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N226NN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N226NN), registered now, S/N 17000540, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Embraer ERJ170 (200LR)
- Registry model: [Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-s-a-erj-170-200-lr) (registry code 3260415) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CF34-8E5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-8e5) (registry code 30061, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17000540
- Year built: 2016
- Airframe hours: 10973
- Engines: General Electric CF-34-8E5 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric CF-34-8E5 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Envoy Airlines
- Registered owner: American Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 6, 2020
- Departed: KELP, El Paso, TX
- Destination: KORD, Chicago, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Data recorder

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 18, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,018 total, 1,778 in this make and model, 1,778 as pilot in command, 88 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 15, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,716 total, 754 in this make and model, 93 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Turbulence: Moderate
- Observed at: KJOT, 6 nm away

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101598. 6.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12702019&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120-1%20ENY%203880%20ELP%20ORD%20July%2009,%202020_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Employee statements (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12701244&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Crew%20and%20Dispatcher%20Statements%20for%20Envoy%20Flight%203880%20ELP%20to%20ORD%20on%20July%2009,%202020_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.

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