FLC OF A B737 EXPERIENCED SEVERE TURB DURING DSCNT FROM HIGH CRUISE ALT RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A CABIN ATTENDANT AND 2 PAX. ONE OF THE ACFT WING SLATES WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THE CREW WAS ALERTED TO POSSIBLE TURB ONLY MOMENTS BEFORE BY ATC ASKING ABOUT THEIR RIDE.

Date: 1997-03 · Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model

Anomalies: inflight-event-encounter-weather-turbulence|other-unspecified

Synopsis

FLC OF A B737 EXPERIENCED SEVERE TURB DURING DSCNT FROM HIGH CRUISE ALT RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A CABIN ATTENDANT AND 2 PAX. ONE OF THE ACFT WING SLATES WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THE CREW WAS ALERTED TO POSSIBLE TURB ONLY MOMENTS BEFORE BY ATC ASKING ABOUT THEIR RIDE.

Narrative

FLT OPERATED NORMALLY ENRTE FROM SLC TOWARD COS. FOLLOWING 2 STEPDOWN DSCNTS; WE LEVELED AT FL270; APPROX 30 NM E OF BLUE MESA VOR; 20 MINS FROM LAUNCHING IN COS. AT THAT TIME; (APPROX ZB00 MST) WE WERE HANDED OFF TO A NEW SECTOR CTLR WHO INQUIRED ABOUT OUR RIDE. WE RESPONDED 'SMOOTH;' AND SHE REQUESTED; 'KEEP US INFORMED.' THE FO IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FLT ATTENDANTS AS I TURNED ON THE SEAT BELT SIGN. HE ADVISED THEM TO CLR THE CABIN AND BE SEATED IN ANTICIPATION OF POSSIBLE TURB. SECONDS LATER; THE ACFT PITCHED UP SMOOTHLY; GAINING 300 FT. WE THEN LOST ALT ABRUPTLY; ENCOUNTERED MODERATE CHOP; FOLLOWED BY SEVERE TURB. THE FO RPTED MODERATE; THEN SEVERE TURB TO ATC AND REQUESTED IMMEDIATE DSCNT CLRNC. WE WERE CLR 'NOT LOWER THAN 17000 FT.' AT APPROX FL265; THE AIR BECAME SMOOTHER. WE CONTINUED TO FL210. 1 FLT ATTENDANT WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION. 2 PAX RPTED MINOR INJURIES. THEY WERE EXAMINED BY EMER MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND RELEASED. THE ACFT INCURRED DAMAGE TO THE #6 SLAT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 364703: UPON CHK-IN; THE CTLR ASKED 'HOW'S YOUR RIDE?' I ANSWERED 'SMOOTH.' SHE SAID 'KEEP US ADVISED.' I THOUGHT THIS WAS STRANGE; BUT ENOUGH OF A CLUE THAT TURB WAS AHEAD. SECONDS; MAYBE 10-15 LATER; THE ACFT WENT FROM SMOOTH; TO MODERATE; TO SEVERE TURB. THE CAPT TOOK OFF THE AUTOPLT AND BEGAN A DSCNT AS DEN CLRED US TO 'NOT LOWER THAN 17000 FT' WITH ALTIMETER SETTING. WE LEVELED AT FL210. IT WAS SMOOTHER OUT OF FL260. I ASKED ABOUT INJURIES. THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT SAID ONE OF THE FLT ATTENDANTS WAS HURT IN THE BACK OF THE ACFT. AN EMT PAX WAS TAKING CARE OF HER. THE CAPT FLEW THE ACFT AND TALKED TO CTR. I COORDINATED WITH COS RAMP FOR EMER ASSISTANCE AND SPOKE TO THE PAX. WE ASKED (VIA PA) ANY PAX WHO WERE HURT TO REMAIN ON BOARD THE ACFT AFTER LNDG. 2 REMAINED; AND WERE RELEASED LATER. THE INJURED FLT ATTENDANT WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. I HAVE THE UNEASY FEELING ZDV KNEW MORE THAN THEY RPTED. I DON'T THINK WE COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING BETTER GIVEN THE SIT; BUT IF WE HAD KNOWN ABOUT THE SEVERE TURB; WE COULD HAVE SET THE FLT ATTENDANTS DOWN WITHOUT ANY DELAY -- EMPHATICALLY.

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