AN F100 FLT ATTENDANT IN CHARGE COMPLAINED THAT FLT ATTENDANTS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE QUICK ACCESS TO THEIR JUMPSEATS DURING SUDDEN ONSETS OF TURB.

Date: 2003-05 · Aircraft: Fokker 100 · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: flight-deck-cabin-aircraft-event-other-unknown|inflight-event-encounter-weather-turbulence

Synopsis

AN F100 FLT ATTENDANT IN CHARGE COMPLAINED THAT FLT ATTENDANTS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE QUICK ACCESS TO THEIR JUMPSEATS DURING SUDDEN ONSETS OF TURB.

Narrative

WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO SAT FROM ORD. THE RIDE WAS SMOOTH WITH NO INDICATION OF TURB. THE SEATBELT SIGN WAS OFF. I WAS WAITING FOR MY FIRST CLASS PAX TO FINISH EATING; SO I SAT DOWN ON MY JUMPSEAT TO WAIT. THE FIRST JOLT HIT; AND IT FELT LIKE THE ACFT WENT UP. I TWISTED AROUND TO GRAB MY SEATBELT AND HARNESS WHEN WE DROPPED 400 FT. 6 PAX INITIALLY COMPLAINED OF INJURIES; 2 HIT THE CEILING. 1 WAS IN THE LAVATORY; AND THE OTHER HAD JUST COME OUT OF THE LAVATORY. THE BEVERAGE CART ALSO HIT THE CEILING AND TURNED OVER. THE PAX THAT WERE BELTED IN DID NOT COME OUT OF THEIR SEATS. THE UNBELTED ONES WERE THROWN ABOUT; BUT MANAGED TO HANG ONTO SEATS; AND BUCKLED UP AFTER WE MADE PA ANNOUNCEMENTS TO BUCKLE UP AND STAY SEATED. I BELIEVE THE SEATBELT SIGN STAYING ON AT ALL TIMES WOULD HELP CUT DOWN ON CLR AIR TURB INJURIES TO PAX. AS A FLT ATTENDANT; WE SHOULD HAVE CLR ACCESS TO OUR JUMPSEATS AT ALL TIMES. OUR GALLEYS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ACCESS AND OPTIMUM SVC. OUR JUMPSEATS ARE OFTEN BLOCKED BY BEVERAGE AND MEAL CARTS. ALSO; HAVING BEVERAGE CARTS THAT WORK PROPERLY WOULD CUT DOWN ON INJURIES; AS THE BRAKES OFTEN DON'T WORK; AND WHEELS DON'T TURN; SO IT IS DIFFICULT TO PARK THEM AT AN ANGLE DURING TURB. WE DIVERTED TO DFW; HAD PARAMEDICS MEET FLT; AND SWITCHED ACFT. WE THEN PROCEEDED TO SAT.

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