Sunday, January 01, 2023

Embraer ERJ-175, N264NN: Fatal accident occurred December 31, 2022 at Montgomery Regional Airport (KMGM), Alabama

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Banning, David

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration; / Flight Standards District Office; Alabama and NW Florida


Location: Montgomery, Alabama
Accident Number: DCA23LA109
Date and Time: December 31, 2022, Local 
Registration: N264NN
Aircraft: EMBRAER S A ERJ 170-200 LR 
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 63 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 121: Air carrier - Scheduled

On December 31, 2022, about 1539 eastern standard time (EST), an Embraer 170 airplane, N264NN, was involved in an accident while parked at the gate with one engine running at Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM), Montgomery, Alabama. The 63 passengers and crew onboard were uninjured. One ramp personnel was fatally injured. The flight was operating under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 121 as a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Texas to MGM.

The flight was operated by Envoy Air Inc. doing business as American Eagle flight ENY3408 with an inoperative auxiliary power unit (APU). The flight crew reported that after an uneventful flight they elected to leave both engines running for the required two-minute engine cool down period. As the airplane approached the gate, three ramp agents were present, but clear of the safety area. After stopping the aircraft and setting the parking brake, the captain gave the hand signal to connect the airplane to ground power. As he was shutting down the number 2 (right) engine the “DOOR CRG FWD OPEN” engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS) message appeared (indicating that the forward cargo door had opened). The first officer (FO) opened his cockpit window to inform the ramp agent that the engines were still operating. The captain then made a brief announcement asking the passengers to remain seated until the seat belt sign had been turned off. He then relayed his intentions to the FO that the seat belt sign would stay illuminated until they had connected to ground power and could shut down the number 1 (left) engine. Immediately thereafter, he saw a warning light illuminate and the airplane shook violently followed by the immediate automatic shutdown of the number 1 engine. Unsure of what had occurred, he extinguished the emergency lights and shut off both batteries before leaving the flight deck to investigate.

Video surveillance captured the accident sequence and showed the airplane being marshalled to the gate. After the nose wheel was chocked, the ramp agent marshaling the airplane walked toward the forward cargo door located on the right side and near the front of the airplane.

Simultaneously, another ramp agent appeared walking towards the back of the airplane with an orange safety cone where she disappeared from view. A third ramp agent located near the right wing tip could be seen gesturing with his hand towards the back of the airplane.

Meanwhile, a fourth ramp agent knelt near the airplane’s nose wheel. The ramp agent from the back of the airplane reappeared and began walking away from the airplane and towards the left wing tip where she disappeared from the camera’s field of view. The marshaller could be seen backing away from the airplane’s open forward cargo door and the ramp agent from the back of the airplane reappeared walking along the leading edge of the left wing and directly in front of the number one engine. She was subsequently pulled off her feet and into the operating engine. Throughout the course of the accident, the airplane’s upper rotating beacon light appeared to be illuminated.

The ground crew reported that a safety briefing was held about 10 minutes before the airplane arrived at the gate. A second safety “huddle” was held shortly before the airplane arrived at the gate, to reiterate that the engines would remain running until ground power was connected. It was also discussed that the airplane should not be approached, and the diamond of safety cones should not be set until the engines were off, spooled down, and the airplane’s rotating beacon light had been extinguished by the flight crew.

One ramp agent located near the right wing tip stated that he observed another ramp agent approach the back of the airplane to set the rear safety cone. He observed her almost fall over from the engines exhaust while he attempted to alert her to stay back and wait for the engines to be shut down. He also stated that he observed the airplane’s upper and lower rotating beacon lights illuminated.

Another ramp agent stated that after chocking the nose wheel of the airplane, he observed another ramp agent approach the forward cargo door and he knelt to wave him off. He then observed another ramp agent about to set the safety cone at the rear of the airplane, he yelled and waved her off as the number 1 engine was still running. He observed her as she began to move away from the airplane before he turned to lower the cord for the ground power. Shortly thereafter he heard a “bang” and the engine shut down.

The American Eagle Ground Operations Manual, Revision 3 dated July 13, 2022, states in part:

To Keep Employees Alive and Aircraft Intact, You Will:

NEVER approach an aircraft to position ground equipment next to an aircraft or open cargo bin doors until the engines are shut down and the rotating beacon(s) turned off, except when conducting an approved single engine turn.

Jetblast/Ingestion Zones

Jet engines spin with powerful speed and are extremely dangerous until spooled down. The area in front of the engine is called the ingestion zone. The ingestion zone for all aircraft types is 15 feet. You must never enter the ingestion zone until the engine has spooled down. 

Spool Down

The engine must be spooled down before entering the ingestion zone. This can take between 30-60 seconds, depending on aircraft type. This applies to both wing and fuselage/tail mounted engines. You must wait until you can clearly see the individual fan blades before entering the ingestion zone.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: EMBRAER S A 
Registration: N264NN
Model/Series: ERJ 170-200 LR 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Flag carrier (121)
Operator Designator Code: SIMA

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site: 
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting: 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: Dallas Ft Worth, TX 
Destination: Montgomery, AL

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 4 None
Aircraft Damage: Minor
Passenger Injuries: 59 None 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal, 63 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 32.302887,-86.39117

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290. 

Ground operations employee received fatal injury after being ingested into the number one engine. 

Date: 31-DEC-22
Time: 21:20:00Z
Regis#: N264NN
Aircraft Make: EMBRAER
Aircraft Model: ERJ170
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 1
Ground: 1 Fatal 
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: COMMERCIAL
Flight Phase: STANDING (STD)
Operation: 121
Aircraft Operator: ENVOY AIRLINES
Flight Number: ENY3408
City: MONTGOMERY
State: ALABAMA

Courtney Nichelle Edwards
September 3, 1988 ~ December 31, 2022 (age 34)


Courtney Nichelle Edwards was born on September 3, 1988 to Bobby E. Edwards and Natalie E. English, in Pensacola, Florida. In addition to graduating from Lawton Chiles High School in Tallahassee, Florida, she attended Florida A & M State University. Courtney was a Ground Handling Agent for Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines. She departed this life on Saturday, December 31, 2022.

Courtney leaves behind her father, Bobby (Debra) Edwards and her mother, Natalie E. English. Rodger L. Smith is her stepfather and was instrumental in her rearing. Courtney also leaves behind three wonderful children: Quentin (12), Alexander (9), and Natalie (8) Hockaday, as well as their father, Troy E. Hockaday. She was a devoted mother, daughter and niece. Her uncle, John (Melissa) Blanding and her three first cousins are also mourning her loss. In addition, she will be missed by numerous family members and friends.

Funeral services will be held Friday, January 13, 2023 - 1:00pm at Church of The Highland, 4255 Taylor Road, Montgomery, Alabama 36116.


Courtney Nichelle Edwards
~

Hi, My name is Donielle Prophete and I'm the President of the CWA (Communication Workers of America) Local 3645. Our Union Local represents the Piedmont Airline's Ground Handling agents (Ramp & Customer Service) from 24 stations in NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, FL, TN & KY. On December 31st, one of our Montgomery Alabama agents', Courtney Edwards, was fatally injured in an on-the-job accident.

Courtney was a Ground Handling agent for Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, a loving mother of 3 kids and a wonderful daughter to her beloved mother, Natalie English of Montgomery, Alabama. Please know that this tragedy has and will affect her mother, family, friends and kids for years to come.

Our Local would like to ask you to help us raise money for her 3 beautiful kids to help cover funeral expenses, day-to-day expenses and any other expenses needed to care for the children. All proceeds raised are going directly to her mother, Natalie, for the care of Courtney's kids. We appreciate any support you could offer during this most tragic time.


The local union representing the woman who was killed in an industrial accident at Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) on New Year's Eve is raising money for her three children left behind.

Courtney Edwards was killed on December 31 when she was "ingested" into the engine of an airplane while working for Peidmont Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines.

Donielle Prophete, president of the CWA (Communication Workers of America) Local 3645, started a GoFundMe page two days ago for Edwards' mother, Natalie English, to raise money for Edwards' family that includes three children. It already has raised $64,000.

The union represents Piedmont Airlines ground handling agents from 24 stations in eight states, including Alabama. 

"Courtney was a Ground Handling agent for Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, a loving mother of 3 kids and a wonderful daughter to her beloved mother, Natalie English of Montgomery, Alabama. Please know that this tragedy has and will affect her mother, family, friends and kids for years to come.
 
Our Local would like to ask you to help us raise money for her 3 beautiful kids to help cover funeral expenses, day-to-day expenses and any other expenses needed to care for the children. All proceeds raised are going directly to her mother, Natalie, for the care of Courtney's kids. We appreciate any support you could offer during this most tragic time."


A worker was fatally injured on the ramp at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama where an American Airlines regional carrier flight was parked, the Federal Aviation Administration said Saturday.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident that occurred where American Airlines Flight 3408, an Embraer E175, was parked at the gate after arriving from Dallas. The FAA said the airport was closed after the incident.

Two people briefed on the matter said the initial investigation indicates the employee was killed in an accident involving one of the airplane's engines that was running.

The flight was operated by Envoy Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group.

The airport said a ground crew worker for Piedmont Airlines, another American regional subsidiary, was killed but did not elaborate.

American said in a statement it was devastated by the accident, which it confirmed involved an employee of Piedmont.

"We are focused on ensuring that all involved have the support they need during this difficult time," the airline said, declining further comment on the active investigation.

2023