Accident Boeing 737-924ER (WL) N69806,
ASN logo
 
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information. If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.

Date:Sunday 26 June 2016
Time:13:00 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic B739 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Boeing 737-924ER (WL)
Owner/operator:United Airlines
Registration: N69806
MSN: 42742/4661
Year of manufacture:2013
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 178
Aircraft damage: None
Category:Accident
Location:New Orleans, Louisiana -   United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature:Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:New Orleans-Louis Armstrong International Airport, LA (MSY/KMSY)
Destination airport:Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL (ORD/KORD)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
On June 26, 2016, at about 1300 CDT, United Airlines flight 430, a Boeing 737-900ER, N69806, was about 20 minutes into the flight from New Orleans International Airport (KMSY), New Orleans, Louisiana,  to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois, when a coffee pot fell off a galley cart and spilled onto a passenger.  Medical personnel were on board and treated the passenger.  The flight crew declared a medical emergency and diverted to Little Rock National Airport (KLIT), Little Rock, Arkansas, where the passenger was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with second degree burns from the hot coffee.  There were 6 crew and 172 passengers on board.  The flight was being operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 scheduled passenger flight. 

The flight attendants (FA) stated that the beverage cart pull out trays were not pulled out for the coffee pots but instead, the metal coffee pot was placed on top of the cart in the center.  In addition, the FAs stated that they could not find the safe-pour lids in their provisioning supplies so they had placed a plastic cup in the opening of the coffee pot.  At the time of the spill, the cart was positioned near seat row 7, with the brakes set.  One FA went to retrieve a meal cart and the other FA had turned their head when suddenly screaming was heard.  The passenger got up and went to the lavatory and was subsequently examined by a doctor and a nurse.  The doctor informed the crew that a diversion was advised.  It could not be determined if the coffee pot tipped over or was grabbed by the young passenger causing the coffee to spill.  

United's flight attendant Galley Guide depicts the proper positioning of the beverage cart pull out trays and where to locate the coffee pots. Coffee pots were to be placed on the pull out trays, not in the center of the cart.  In addition, the same guidance had several references throughout the document to, "Use the safe-pour lid on coffee pots anytime they are brought into the aisle."

Probable Cause: the improper placement of the coffee pot on the beverage cart and failure to use a safe-pour lid.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: DCA16CA193
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 3 years and 11 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB DCA16CA193

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
02-Jun-2023 13:47 ASN Update Bot Added

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org