Incident Overview
An airstair handrail collapsed during passenger boarding at West Palm Beach, Florida, causing a disabled passenger to fall and sustain serious injuries. The incident occurred when the passenger attempted to board the aircraft unassisted.
Sequence of Events
The problem with the handrail was first discovered earlier that day during passenger boarding in Tallahassee. The left handrail on the airstair was found collapsed, with the failure located at the soldered joint of the handrail locking mechanism. The station manager performed a temporary repair using metal glue on the joint. The flight crew was informed of the discrepancy.
The aircraft departed Tallahassee with a scheduled stop in Orlando before continuing to West Palm Beach. The airstair was not used during the Orlando stop.
The Injury
Upon arrival in West Palm Beach, a disabled passenger began boarding the aircraft. The passenger stated that he did not need assistance and only required extra time. As he boarded, the handrail collapsed, causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground. The passenger sustained serious injuries as a result of the fall.
Handrail Condition
Examination of the handrail revealed that the failure occurred at the soldered joint of the handrail locking mechanism. The temporary repair with metal glue had been applied earlier but did not prevent the collapse.