# NTSB DCA22LA196: Boeing 737-824, N76529, Denver, CO, September 1, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 1, 2022, 21:18 UTC
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.961385, -104.80581
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9614&lon=-104.8058&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, 147 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): 105884
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA22LA196
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105884/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105884
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22LA196

## Probable cause

An encounter with clear air turbulence, which resulted in a serious injury as a flight attendant was lowering her jumpseat.

## Findings

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

- [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-824, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=13844BZ), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md)
- [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Boeing 737-824, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=13844BZ), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md)
- [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Boeing 737-824, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=13844BZ), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/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: [Boeing 737-824, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=13844BZ), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight crew stated that the flight was on the final stage of the arrival for landing. The seatbelt sign had been on, the flight attendants had just completed their final pre-landing preparations, and had been instructed to take their seats, when suddenly the flight experienced a sudden jolt due to clear air turbulence. When the turbulence occurred one of the flight attendants was in the process of seating herself and as she placed her hand on her jumpseat to lower it, the turbulence occurred causing her to fall and experience an abrupt and intense pressure on her left hand as her fingers were bent backwards. Her hand immediately began to swell. The injured flight attendant was assisted by another flight attendant, the flight crew was informed, and a medical emergency was declared. After landing the flight attendant was given medical care and diagnosed with a fracture of the 4th metacarpal bone in her left hand.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N76529](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N76529), registered now, S/N 31652, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-824
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-824](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-824) (registry code 13844BZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B26/3 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b26-3-series) (registry code 13073, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31652
- Year built: 2010
- Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B26/3 25900 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B26/3 25900 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines Inc
- Registered owner: United Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: KPDX, Portland, OR
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 9,620 total, 7,773 in this make and model, 6,130 as pilot in command, 108 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 39; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 31, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 298 total, 35 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: DEN, 9 nm away

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105884. 2.2 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=14999030&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20-%20United%20DCA22LA196_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Employee statements - captain (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14999711&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA22LA196%20-%20Flight%201675%20-%20PDX-DEN%20FA%20injury%20-Captain-Rel.pdf
- Employee statements - first officer (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14999416&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA22LA196%20-%20UA1675%20FA%20Injury%20-%20FO%20statement-2-Rel.pdf
- Employee statements - flight attendants (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14999591&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA22LA196%20-%20UAL%201675%20Sep%201%202022%20Cabin%20Crew%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.

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