Accident Airbus A330-323 N273AY,
ASN logo
ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 309496
 
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:Tuesday 18 September 2012
Time:12:30 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic A333 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Airbus A330-323
Owner/operator:US Airways
Registration: N273AY
MSN: 337
Year of manufacture:2000
Engine model:Pratt & Whitney PW4168A
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 159
Aircraft damage: None
Category:Accident
Location:Sophia, North Carolina -   United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature:DSP
Departure airport:Frankfurt International Airport (FRA/EDDF)
Destination airport:Charlotte-Douglas Airport, NC (CLT/KCLT)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
On September 18th, 2012 at approximately 1230 EDT, an Airbus A330, N273AY, operated by US Airways as flight 707 from Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) to Charlotte, NC (CLT) encountered severe turbulence on descent into CLT. During the encounter, a flight attendant was seriously injured.

According to the operator, on descent into CLT the flight crew received an ACARS message from the company dispatcher handling the flight. The dispatcher indicated that a SIGMET was issued for the North Carolina area with strong winds and embedded thunderstorms. The International Relief Officer (IRO) contacted the flight attendants to advise them they would be entering an area of possible turbulence in approximately 15 minutes. An announcement was also made to the passengers over the public address system advising them to remain seated and fasten their seat belts. The seat belt sign was illuminated. The airplane was descending through approximately 16,000 feet when it entered the clouds and encountered moderate turbulence.

In the cabin, the flight attendants began preparing the cabin for arrival after receiving the turbulence advisory from the IRO. Several flight attendants were still out of their seats collecting service items and securing the galley when the turbulence encounter occurred. The "C" flight attendant was securing the aft galley during the encounter. She was lifted into the air, fell back down onto the cabin floor, and landed on her back. The "D" and "G" flight attendants also sustained minor injuries.

The flight crew contacted the flight attendants after the encounter and were notified of their injuries. The flight crew arranged for paramedics to meet the flight and remove the injured flight attendants.

The "C" flight attendant received a fracture to the distal tibia at the medial and lateral malleoli.

Probable Cause: an encounter with moderate turbulence while the flight attendant was securing the cabin for arrival.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: DCA12CA149
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 6 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB DCA12CA149

History of this aircraft

Other occurrences involving this aircraft
5 February 2015 N273AY American Airlines 0 Stand 325, London Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex min
Collision with Ground support equipment

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates

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