# NTSB DCA22LA015: Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, N252NN, Miami, FL, October 23, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 23, 2021, 09:55 local (13:55 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Coordinates: 25.7969, -80.2762
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7969&lon=-80.2762&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Pushback/towing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/200) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Pushback/tow-engine not oper: Comm system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/336)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 62 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): 104161
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA22LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104161/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104161
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22LA015

## Probable cause

An abrupt jerk of the airplane as the captain applied the parking brake during the tow that caused a flight attendant to fall and break her wrist.

## Findings

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

- [Communication (personnel): language/accent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063525): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew; cases with it: [Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063525/cases.md?model=3260415), [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063525/cases.md)
- [Communication (personnel): interpretation/understanding](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063530): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063530/cases.md?model=3260415), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063530/cases.md)
- [Communications system: interphone](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022340): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction; cases with it: [Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022340/cases.md?model=3260415), [All aircraft, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022340/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Pushback/tow-engine not oper: Comm system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/336) (defining event); cases with it: [Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/336/sequence.md?model=3260415), [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/336/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Envoy flight 4265 experienced a jolt during pushback and a flight attendant broke a wrist. According to the captain, after the “Before Start Checklist” was completed, the flightcrew was connected to the ground crew push-tug operator for push-back via the interphone. The push-tug operator informed him that he was ready for the captain to release the parking brake, and upon the captain doing so, the push began. During the final push, when the airplane transitioned from reverse to forward, the captain said that the communications connection with the ground crew deteriorated, and he believed he heard the push-tug operator say “set parking brake”, when actually the push-tug operator was directing the flight crew to start engines. The captain said that as a result he applied the parking brake while the tug operator was pulling the airplane forward, which resulted in a sudden jerk. The captain also said that the push-tug operator was difficult to understand because of his accent, which combined with the faulty interphone connection, resulted in the miscommunication. At the time of the event, two flight attendants (FA) were in the aisle performing the passenger safety demonstration. No. 1 FA was thrown against seat 4D, and No. 2 FA was thrown to the floor, hitting her head, back, and wrist, and was unable to stand. The airplane was towed back to the gate, and the No. 2 FA was taken to a local hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured left wrist.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N252NN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N252NN), registered now, S/N 17000642, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EMBRAER S A ERJ 170-200 LR
- 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: 17000642
- Year built: 2017
- Engines: GE CF34-8E5 14510 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF34-8E5 14510 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Envoy Air
- Registered owner: American Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Destination: RDU, Raleigh/Durham, NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MIA, Miami Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,658 total, 582 in this make and model
- Co-pilot; age 55; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 22, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,421 total, 574 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104161. 2.2 MB in all.

- Employee statements - flight and cabin crew (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13277987&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA22LA015%20ENVOY%204265%20MIA%20RDU%2023%20OCTOBER%202021%20Flight%20Crew%20Statements-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13279652&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120-1%20DCA22LA015%20-%20ENY%204265%20N252NN%20MIA%20RDU%20OCT%2023%202021_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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