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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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February 24, 2012 · Airbus A321 112 · N162UW

Millville, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 24, 2012
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 188 uninjured
Location
Millville, NJ
Aircraft
Airbus A321 112
Tail Number
N162UW
Operator
U S Airways
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
DCA12FA046

The flight encountered severe turbulence and two lightning strikes while the flight was level at 13,000 feet in instrument meteorological conditions. The seatbelt sign had been illuminated since the passing through 18,000 feet during the descent and was on at the time of the encounter. Prior to the turbulence, a passenger had ignored the seatbelt sign and entered the lavatory, unbeknownst to the flight attendants, who were preparing the cabin for landing. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the passenger was exiting the lavatory and was severely injured. Inflight turbulence and convection advisories had been forecasted for the area where the flight encountered the turbulence. There was a convective SIGMET for severe thunderstorms and for occasional turbulence between 16,000 feet and FL 280. In addition, there were several pilot reports of turbulence in the area.

NTSB Probable Cause

an encounter with convective turbulence that resulted in injury to a passenger who was not seated when the seatbelt sign was illuminated.

Full Narrative

On February 24, 2011, about 1700 eastern daylight time, US Airways flight 1556, an Airbus A321-211, N162UW, encountered turbulence during arrival into Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 189 passengers and crew onboard one passenger received serious injuries and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The first officer was the pilot flying and the captain was the pilot monitoring. The flight crew stated that they were in instrument meteorological conditions and level at 13,000 feet and 250 knots when they encountered severe turbulence and two separate lightning strikes. The flight crew stated that the weather radar was on and displaying only green returns. The crew indicated that the seat belt sign was on, and had been on since passing through 18,000 feet. They indicated that turbulence lasted about 10-15 seconds and the airplane immediately lose 20 knots airspeed and pitched violently in all three axes. In addition, the airplane lost about 150 feet in altitude and the autopilot disengaged. While the captain was reporting the severe turbulence to Air Traffic Control, the flight crew was notified by the flight attendants that a passenger was on the floor and was apparently injured. When the turbulence was encountered, a passenger was exiting the mid-lavatory and sustained serious injuries. The A flight attendant stated that as she had been in the back of the airplane and that they encountered the turbulence when she was walking back to the front. She said that she did not see the passenger actually fall, but after the turbulence, saw the passenger lying on the floor outside the 3L lavatory. The flight attendant said she immediately dropped to the floor since to assist the passenger and had two men in the exit aisle seats put their arms around her to secure her in case the airplane encountered additional turbulence. The flight attendant said she then told a flight attendant seated in the aft galley to inform the captain of the event.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 EST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAirbus A321 112
Tail NumberN162UW
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorU S Airways
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsCfm · CFM56-5B3/P · Turbofan · 32000 | Cfm · CFM56-5B3/P · Turbofan · 32000
Seats194

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 188 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured188
Total189
Crew 1Age 62 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 48 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightNight
Wind360° @ 6 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 43 C
Altimeter29.38 inHg
Observation Time22:40
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data