Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 27 May 1989
Aircraft Type: Fokker F-28 Fellowship 4000
Owner/operator: East West Airlines
Registration Number: VH-EWH
Location: 220 km S of Mackay, QLD –
ÿ Australia
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 23
Component Affected: Seat belt and buckle.Seat belt and buckle.
Investigating Agency: BASIBASI
Category: Accident
An aircraft experienced severe downdraft shortly after takeoff, resulting in a passenger being thrown from their seat and sustaining five broken ribs. Despite no fault found with the seat belt, the cause of the passenger?s ejection remains undetermined, despite forecast severe turbulence. The aircraft was in cloud with no weather radar data.An aircraft experienced severe downdraft shortly after takeoff, resulting in a passenger being thrown from their seat and sustaining five broken ribs. Despite no fault found with the seat belt, the cause of the passenger?s ejection remains undetermined, despite forecast severe turbulence. The aircraft was in cloud with no weather radar data.
Description
Shortly after reaching FL310, the aircraft encountered a severe downdraft. The seat-belt sign had been on since departure. however, one pax was thrown into the overhead panel and fell back onto the seat arm rest receiving 5 broken ribs. No fault was found with the seat-belt or its buckle. The reason the pax was not strapped in could not be established. Although the aircraft was in cloud, no weather radar returns had been received. Severe turbulence had been forecast for the area. The aircraft encountered severe turbulence which had been forecast; it could not be determined why a pax seat-belt was not secured; the pax was thrown from her seat and was injured
Primary Cause
Severe downdraft and lack of seat belt securing during turbulence.Severe downdraft and lack of seat belt securing during turbulence.Share on:
