Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Las Vegas, Nevada
December 07, 2021: Aircraft experienced turbulence over the Rocky Mountains.
Spirit Airlines Inc
Date: 07-DEC-21
Time: 04:00:00Z
Regis#: N512NK
Aircraft Make: AIRBUS
Aircraft Model: A319
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: MINOR
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: COMMERCIAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 121
Aircraft Operator: SPIRIT AIRLINES
Flight Number: NKS691
City: LAS VEGAS
State: NEVADA
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Spirit Airlines Inc
Location: South Toledo Bend, Texas
Accident Number: DCA17CA123
Date and Time: May 21, 2017, 19:30 Local
Registration: N512NK
Aircraft: Airbus A319 132
Aircraft Damage: None
Defining Event: Turbulence encounter
Injuries: 1 Serious, 2 Minor, 139 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 121: Air carrier - Scheduled
Analysis
On May 20, 2017, about 1930 central daylight time, Spirit Airlines flight 330, an Airbus A319-132, N512NK, encountered turbulence while in cruise flight at flight level (FL) 360. Of the 146 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant received serious injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (KMSY), New Orleans, Louisiana, to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW), Dallas, Texas.
During cruise, as the flight was approaching a line of weather, the flight crew made a public address announcement for the passengers to be seated because they expected turbulence. In addition, the captain called the lead flight attendant (FA) and instructed that all the flight attendants be seated. The seatbelt sign was illuminated for the entire flight. About 10 minutes later, the flight penetrated a line of weather and the airplane had a short encounter with moderate turbulence. The autopilot did not disengage during the encounter.
When the turbulence occurred, one of the FAs was seated in the aft galley without her seatbelt fastened and was thrown upwards, hitting her head on the ceiling before landing on the galley floor. She was assisted by medically qualified passengers and remained on the floor for the remainder of the flight due to numbness in her extremities. Emergency personnel met the airplane after landing and the injured FA was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with number 1 lumbar fracture.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
An encounter with convective turbulence.
Findings
Environmental issues Convective turbulence - Effect on personnel
Factual Information
History of Flight
Enroute-cruise Turbulence encounter (Defining event)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Airline transport
Age: 41, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: May 3, 2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: July 16, 2016
Flight Time: 10500 hours (Total, all aircraft), 3134 hours (Total, this make and model)
Co-pilot Information
Certificate: Airline transport
Age: 42, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Powered-lift
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: May 10, 2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: December 17, 2016
Flight Time: 12855 hours (Total, all aircraft), 973 hours (Total, this make and model)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Airbus
Registration: N512NK
Model/Series: A319 132 132
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2006
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Transport
Serial Number: 2673
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 145
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Continuous airworthiness
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 166449 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Turbo fan
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: IAE
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: V2500SERIES
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 9895 Horsepower
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Flag carrier (121)
Operator Does Business As:
Operator Designator Code: GTIA
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument (IMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time:
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: New Orleans, LA (MSY)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Dallas, TX (DFW)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 18:57 Local
Type of Airspace:
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious, 2 Minor, 2 None
Aircraft Damage: None
Passenger Injuries: 137 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 2 Minor, 139 None
Latitude, Longitude: 30.990798,-93.660491(est)
What the hell was that FA thinking in that older 2017 event? The crew (and PAX) were given plenty of advanced warning to get seated and buckle up. That is a potential permanent life altering injury over being stupid.
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