Incident Details
On 13 November 2003 at approximately 0800 hours UTC, while preparing Boeing 757-2T7, registration G-MONB, for a flight at Stand 130 of London Gatwick Airport, West Sussex, the number one cabin crew member slipped on the galley floor. The crew member hurt his back and arm and was subsequently taken to hospital, where an X-ray revealed a fractured arm. The aircraft, manufactured in 1983, was being used for a public transport passenger flight. The crew consisted of eight persons, with no passengers on board at the time. The commander, aged 44, held an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence and had 15,470 flying hours, of which 11,223 were on type, with 181 hours in the last 90 days and 38 hours in the last 28 days.
Investigation Findings
An inspection of the aircraft interior after the accident identified slippery floor areas in the galley, toilets, and aisle. Further investigation revealed that the aircraft had received a 'deep clean' the evening before the accident. The cleaning process had left parts of the floor in a slippery condition. The injured crew member was the only person reported with injuries, classified as serious, and no damage to the aircraft was noted.
Corrective Actions
In response to the incident, cleaners were called to the aircraft, and the slippery condition was rectified before the flight departed. The operator tasked its engineering contractor with researching the availability of an improved non-slip surface for non-carpeted aircraft floors.