# NTSB ERA11CA152: Airbus A320-232, N706JB, North Fayston, VT, February 19, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 19, 2011, 18:43 local (23:43 UTC)
- Place: North Fayston, VT
- Coordinates: 44.045124, -72.710533 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0451&lon=-72.7105&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-IFR initial approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 117 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 20, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO, JetBlue
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78390/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78390
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA152

## Probable cause

The airplane's inadvertent encounter with turbulence during the approach, which resulted in serious injury to a flight attendant.

## Findings

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

- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus A320-232, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=3940004), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-IFR initial approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus A320-232, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3940004), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)
- [Approach-IFR initial approach: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110); cases with it: [Airbus A320-232, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=3940004), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the captain, while on approach at an altitude of approximately 6,000 feet mean sea level, the airplane experienced an encounter with severe turbulence. Two flight attendants struck the aft galley floor and rear passenger door. One flight attendant sustained bruising and the other flight attendant sustained multiple fractured ribs. The airplane continued its approach and landed normally. There was no damage to the airplane.

## Factual narrative

According to the captain, while on approach to the destination airport, at an altitude of approximately 6,000 feet mean sea level (msl), the airplane experienced an encounter with severe turbulence. Two flight attendants struck the aft galley floor and rear passenger door. One flight attendant sustained bruising and the other flight attendant sustained multiple fractured ribs. The airplane continued its approach and landed normally. There was no damage to the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N706JB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N706JB), registered now, S/N 3451, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS A320-232
- Registry model: [Airbus A320-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a320-232) (registry code 3940004) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [IAE V2527-A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-v2527-a5) (registry code 34604, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3451
- Airframe hours: 11582
- Engines: IAE V12840 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan; IAE V12840 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Jetblue Airways Corp
- Registered owner: Jetblue Airways Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 14, 2011
- Departed: JFK, Jamaica, NY
- Destination: BTV, Burlington, VT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BTV, Burlington International, runway 33, 8,320 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 22, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 9,000 total, 3,175 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 15, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 5,284 total, 257 in this make and model, 3,610 as pilot in command, 151 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 320° at 20 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 18 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observed at: BTV, 19 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20110219003149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110219003149A), Feb 19, 2011: Airbus A320-232, Burlington, VT, No damage. On February 19th, jet blue flight 48 from jfk to btv encountered a short burst of moderate turbulence, approximately 15 to 20 miles from the airport at 6000…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78390. 699 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 641 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345510&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Certification of Party Representative (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345513&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Certification%20of%20Party%20Representative-Redacted.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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