# NTSB DCA21LA082: Airbus A320, N918NK, Fort Lauderdale, FL, February 8, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 8, 2021, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Coordinates: 26.683, -80.095 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6830&lon=-80.0950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 95 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): 102620 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA21LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102620/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102620 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA21LA082 ## Probable cause An abrupt flight control input by the flight crew during descent that caused a flight attendant to fall and fracture their ankle. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew; cases with it: [Airbus A320-271N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3940320), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus A320-271N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=3940320), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane experienced an abrupt maneuver during initial descent and a flight attendant fractured their ankle. According to the flight crew, just prior to top of descent the captain informed the flight attendants to prepare the cabin early because there was weather in the vicinity of the arrival airport. Shortly after that, the first officer (FO), who was the pilot flying, initiated the descent. Air traffic control then cleared the flight to a lower altitude and requested they increase their descent. The FO complied, and increased their vertical speed, however, at some point, he engaged "open descent" mode. The FO saw the airspeed increasing towards red line and he pulled back on the stick and the autopilot disengaged. The captain said he then took control using the autopilot disconnect/priority switch and applied aft stick pressure to return the airplane to a normal descent pitch attitude to prevent an overspeed. According to the flight crew, the airplane was in clear air and smooth flight conditions when the event occurred. Two flight attendants (FA) in the aft galley, were thrown into the air and onto the floor. The captain was notified that one of the FAs had been injured and would need assistance when they got to the gate. A deadheading FA assumed the injured FAs duties for the remainder of the flight. After landing, the FA was transported to a local hospital and diagnosed with a fractured ankle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N918NK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N918NK), registered now, S/N 9259, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A320 (271N) - Registry model: [Airbus A320-271N](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a320-271n) (registry code 3940320) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [IAE PW1127G-JM](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-pw1127g-jm) (registry code 34550, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 09259 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Spirit Airlines - Registered owner: Spirit Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 8, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 34,400 total, 12,000 in this make and model, 34,375 as pilot in command, 255 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 10, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,402 total, 103 in this make and model, 2,089 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 6, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102620. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12045045&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA21LA082%20-%20FA%20Injury%20NTSB-6120-259_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Employee statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12045207&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA21LA082%20FA%20Injury%20-Crew%20Statements-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.