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August 12, 2016 · Airbus A320 232 232 · N632JB

Wood, SD

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
August 12, 2016
Injury Outcomes
27 injuries (27 minor injuries), 124 uninjured
Location
Wood, SD
Aircraft
Airbus A320 232 232 (2006)
Tail Number
N632JB
Operator
Jetblue Airways
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
DCA16IA215

The scheduled passenger flight was enroute at a cruise altitude of flight level 320 (FL320), when the airplane encountered severe turbulence. Of the 2 pilots, 3 flight attendants, and 146 passengers onboard, all three flight attendants and 28 passengers sustained minor injuries. The pilots subsequently diverted to a nearby airport and landed without further incident. The pilots reported that the onboard weather radar depicted some precipitation along the route, and the captain informed the flight attendants to remain seated and turned the seatbelt sign on. After the flight exited some of the light precipitation, the crew observed cumulonimbus clouds ahead and subsequently requested and were granted a deviation around the clouds; however, the airplane encountered turbulence as it flew through the edge of the clouds. The first officer stated that it "felt like they went up and then dropped," and the captain described the encounter as "very violent and very quick." The flight attendants reported that the flight had been experiencing light turbulence when the captain called to state that it would continue for the next 30 to 45 minutes. One of the flight attendants made a public address announcement to the passengers to remain seated with their seatbelts on; at this time, all three of the flight attendants were seated in their jumpseats. The turbulence continued for about 10 minutes before it smoothed out, and all three flight attendants got up from their seats to conduct various tasks throughout the cabin. The airplane subsequently encountered what they described as "extreme," "violent" turbulence, and all three sustained injuries. A review of the flight plan showed convective SIGMETs and thunderstorms that were forecasted and valid on or near the route of flight. The pilots reported that they only saw areas of green returns on their onboard radar and did not see any indication of severe weather. Additionally, there were no pilot reports (PIREPs) to indicate that other aircraft were encountering severe turbulence, nor did air traffic control provide any information to indicate that they might encounter such turbulence.

NTSB Probable Cause

Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Turbulence-Convective turbulence-Effect on personnel - C

Full Narrative

On August 11, 2016, about 2010 central daylight time, JetBlue Airways flight 429, an Airbus A-320-232, N632JB, encountered severe turbulence while in cruise flight and diverted to the Rapid City Regional Airport (KRAP), Rapid City, South Dakota. Of the 151 passengers and crew onboard, 31 received minor injuries. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (KBOS), Boston, Massachusetts, to Sacramento International Airport (KSMF), Sacramento, California. The flight departed on schedule, and the taxi, takeoff, and initial climb were uneventful. The captain was the pilot flying and the first officer (FO) was the pilot monitoring at the time of the event. The captain reported that the flight had been experiencing intermittent "light chop" turbulence and that they had queried air traffic control (ATC) to see if a higher altitude might provide a smoother flight. When the controller advised that the turbulence would be worse at a higher altitude, they decided to remain at flight level 320. Shortly before the turbulence encounter, the onboard weather radar depicted precipitation ahead, and the controller advised of moderate precipitation; the captain subsequently informed the flight attendants to be seated in their jumpseats and turned the seatbelt sign on. After the flight exited some of the light precipitation, the crew observed cumulonimbus clouds and requested and were subsequently cleared for a deviation to the left; however, the airplane encountered turbulence as it flew through the edge of the clouds. The captain described the turbulence as "very violent and very quick." During the turbulence encounter, computed airspeed increased from about 275 knots (kts) to 285 knots as the airplane was in a left bank, and the vertical acceleration increased to +1.7 g. After fluctuating at positive g values for about 6 seconds, the vertical acceleration began to decrease, reaching a maximum negative value of 0.75 g. The flight attendants stated that the flight had been experiencing light turbulence when the captain called them to state that "it would be like this" for the next 30 to 45 minutes. One of the flight attendants made an announcement to the passengers to remain seated with their seatbelts on; at this time, all three of the flight attendants were seated in their jumpseats. The turbulence continued for about 10 minutes before it smoothed out, and all three flight attendants got up from their seats to conduct various tasks throughout the cabin. The airplane subsequently encountered what they described as "extreme," "violent" turbulence, and all three sustained injuries. After the turbulence encounter, the captain contacted the flight attendants via the interphone, who informed him that they were injured. The captain decided to divert to KRAP and transferred control to the FO so that he could go back to the cabin and assess the injuries. A review of the flight plan showed convective SIGMETs and thunderstorms were forecasted and valid on or near the route of flight. The pilots reported that they only saw areas of green returns on their onboard radar and did not see any indication of severe weather. Additionally, there were no pilot reports (PIREPs) to indicate that other aircraft were encountering severe turbulence nor any advisories of turbulence from air traffic control.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time19:09 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAirbus A320 232 232
Tail NumberN632JB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorJetblue Airways
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsIae · V2500SERIES · Turbofan · 9895 | Iae · V2500SERIES · Turbofan · 9895
Seats179

People & Injuries

Injury Summary27 injuries (27 minor injuries), 124 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor27
Uninjured124
Total151

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightNight
WindCalm
CeilingBroken clouds 45000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data