# NTSB DCA23LA191: Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW, N337JB, New York, NY, February 25, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 24, 2023, 20:30 local (Feb 25, 2023, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: New York, NY
- Coordinates: 40.64749, -73.779982
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6475&lon=-73.7800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 99 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Parties: JetBlue Airways, FAA AVP-100
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106804
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA23LA191
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106804/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106804
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA23LA191

## Probable cause

Electrical sparking caused by a faulty connection between the aircraft and ground power unit resulting in a serious injury to a ground service agent.

## Findings

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

- [Electrical power system: external power system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022440): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction; cases with it: [Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022440/cases.md?model=3260408), [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022440/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=3260408), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On February 24, 2023, about 20:30 eastern standard time, an Embraer E190, operated by JetBlue Airways as flight 618 from Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP), Minneapolis, Minnesota to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), had a ground service agent sustain second degree burns while connecting ground electrical power to the airplane after it blocked into Gate 5, at Terminal 5. According to the ground service agent, after connecting the ground power unit (GPU) he noted that electrical power was not being supplied to the airplane, so he went back to the connection point to confirm that power was on when suddenly the connection between the GPU and the airplane sparked and his right shirt sleeve caught fire and his wrist was burned.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N337JB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N337JB), registered now, S/N 19000473, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EMBRAER ERJ 190-100 IGW
- Registry model: [Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-erj-190-100-igw) (registry code 3260408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CF34-10E6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-10e6) (registry code 30023, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19000473
- Year built: 2011
- Engines: GE CF34-10E6 18820 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF34-10E6 18820 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Jetblue Airways Corp
- Registered owner: Jetblue Airways Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: MSP, Minneapolis -St. Paul International, MN
- Destination: KJFK, Queens, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: JFK, John F. Kennedy International
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review May 15, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,112 in this make and model
- Co-pilot; age 28; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 4, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 228 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Night
- Wind: 310° at 22 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter: 3053.00 inHg
- Observed at: KJFK

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106804. 7.5 MB in all.

- Employee statements (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17352908&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carlos%20Astacio%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17144664&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=F618%20NTSB%20Crew%20Statements-Rel.pdf
- Employee statements grd crew (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17144235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=GO%20Witness%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 4, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17144314&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20GO%20BURN%20-%20FINALl_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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