ON DSCNT ONBOARD DC10-10; ACFT HIT WAKE TURB CAUSING CABIN ATTENDANTS TO BE INJURED. FLT LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT.

Narrative

WE WERE FINALIZING CABIN DUTIES ON DSCNT/APCH AT APPROX 10000 FT WHEN WAKE TURB JOLTED US TO THE L AND DROPPED US SUDDENLY. I COULD FEEL IT COMING. IT WAS RATHER SLOW; SO I GRABBED THE TOP OF THE 2R JUMP SEAT TO BRACE MYSELF. I WITNESSED OTHER CREW MEMBERS LITERALLY FREE-FLOATING ABOUT THE SVC CTR. FORTUNATELY; ALL PAX WERE STRAPPED IN AND ONLY A FEW FLT ATTENDANTS WERE HURT. THOSE THAT WERE HURT WERE IN THE BACK OF THE ACFT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR ACN 409158 REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT 1 CABIN ATTENDANT HAD A CONCUSSION INJURY AS SHE WAS IN THE AFT OF THE ACFT WHEN THE TURB HIT AND REQUIRED A WHEELCHAIR UPON ARR. THE INJURIES THAT OCCURRED WERE CABIN ATTENDANTS IN THE AFT OF THE ACFT. RPTR STATED THAT A CART IN THE SVC CTR THAT WAS NOT SECURE RAISED UP IN THE AIR 2 FT AND SLAMMED DOWN. FORTUNATELY NO INJURIES TO ANYONE FROM THIS CART. RPTR SUGGESTS TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT THAT THE RULE OF 6 MINS OUT CABIN ATTENDANTS AND CABIN EQUIP SECURED BE EXTENDED TO 10 MINS OUT AND ANALYST AGREES. ON SHORT SEGMENTS; THIS IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE; BUT A FAR SAFER RULE TO PREVENT INJURY IN THE EVENT OF WAKE TURB. ALSO; FLC COM WITH CABIN ATTENDANTS AFTER THIS INCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR AND SHOULD BE MANDATORY WHEN INJURIES OCCUR. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 408046: I WAS HANDING BACK COATS AND CHKING FOR SEATBELT COMPLIANCE WHEN THE ACFT WENT INTO A 25-30 DEG ROLL TO THE L IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. AT THAT MOMENT; I WAS THEN LIFTED UP OFF THE DECK AND THROWN UPWARDS TO THE CEILING NEXT TO THE L-HAND OVERHEAD BINS. I HELD ONTO THE TOP OF THE OVERHEAD BIN WITH MY L HAND. THE CAPT MADE A BRIEF PA ABOUT USING SEATBELTS AND WHAT HAPPENED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 408039: WE WERE FOLLOWING A B747. ALL 4 FLT ATTENDANTS IN MAIN CABIN WERE HURT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 408042: IN FUTURE; FLT ATTENDANTS SHOULD BE IN JUMP SEATS AND STRAPPED IN 20 MINS BEFORE LNDG. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 409158: I FELT US START BANKING TO THE L. THEN LIFT PROCEEDED. I WAS BEING LIFTED OFF THE GND IN SLOW MOTION. I FELT I WAS LIFTED OFF THE GND 3-4 FT. APPARENTLY WE WERE SPACED TOO CLOSE BEHIND ANOTHER ACFT ON APCH INTO LAX. I FEEL WE SHOULD BE SEATED WHEN WE BEGIN OUR APCH TO MINIMIZE INJURY; NOT ON FINAL. BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN IN THAT SIT; IT IS A SIT OF HELPLESSNESS. SEATBELTS SHOULD BE WORN ON APCH BY EVERYONE.