WDB ENCOUNTERS SEVERE TURB CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY TO CABIN ATTENDANTS.

1993-04 · NASA ASRS report 239939

Date: 1993-04 · Aircraft: Widebody; Low Wing; 3 Turbojet Eng

Anomalies: inflight-event-encounter-weather-turbulence

Synopsis

WDB ENCOUNTERS SEVERE TURB CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY TO CABIN ATTENDANTS.

Narrative

ON A SCHEDULED FLT FROM LAX TO EWR; WE WERE CRUISING IN THE CLR AT FL290 APCHING DENVER. RPTS OF POOR RIDES AT FL330 AND FL370 HAD BEEN RPTED BY ZDV; BUT OUR RIDE AT FL290 WAS SMOOTH. JUST AS WE APCHED THE BEGINNING OF THE FRONT RANGE; WE STARTED TO RECEIVE SOME LIGHT CHOP; AND WITHIN A MATTER OF PERHAPS 30 SECONDS; WE WENT FROM LIGHT CHOP; SOME MODERATE CHOP/TURB AND 2 JOLTS OF SEVERE TURB WHICH TOSSED ABOUT DISHES AND FLT ATTENDANTS IN THE CABIN. WITH THE FIRST INDICATION OF TURB WE TURNED ON THE SEAT BELT SIGN AND THE FO MADE A PA FOR EVERYONE TO BE SEATED. AFTER THE JOLTS OF TURB WE EXPERIENCED SOME MOUNTAIN WAVE EFFECT FOR ABOUT 3 MINS; THEN AS WE FLEW INTO THE PLAINS E OF DENVER; WE AGAIN HAD A GOOD RIDE WITH JUST OCCASIONAL LIGHT CHOP. THE TURB CAME UNEXPECTEDLY AND LASTED ONLY A FEW SECONDS; BUT CAUSED PROBS IN THE CABIN AND A MESS OF DISHES; GLASSES AND SPILLED FOOD. THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES NOR DAMAGE; BUT WE WERE AGAIN MADE AWARE OF THE HAZARDS OF CLR AIR TURB. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN 241318: NO RPT OF TURB AT FL290. WX WAS VFR; NO ROTOR CLOUDS OBSERVED. 2 FLT ATTENDANTS HAD SPRAINED THEIR ANKLES. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN 240440: WE WERE TOLD OF ACFT RPTING A BAD RIDE AT FL330 AND FL370 WITH NO OTHER INDICATIONS OF SERIOUSNESS OR RPTS AT LOWER ALTS. THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY 1 OR 2 SEVERE BUMPS; ENOUGH TO TOSS GALLEY GEAR AROUND AND FLT ATTENDANTS INTO THE AIR/CEILING. LATER; A NON REVENUE TOLD US HE WAS IN THE LAVATORY AT THE TIME AND GOT SPLASHED WITH BLUE WATER. HE TOLD US ANOTHER PAX WAS IN A LAVATORY AND THAT BOTH QUICKLY EXITED AND SAT IN FLT ATTENDANT JUMP SEATS. LATER; A COUPLE MORE FLT ATTENDANTS FELT SHOULD RPT SOME BUMPS AND BRUISES AND ONE GOT SOME BROKEN GLASS IN A FOOT.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.

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