Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 28 December 2005
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-522
Owner/operator: Bulgaria Air
Registration Number: LZ-BOQ
Location: Italian Airspace – ÿ Italy
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 93
Component Affected: Aircraft Autopilot SystemAircraft Autopilot System
Investigating Agency: AAIU BulgariaAAIU Bulgaria
Category: Accident
A Boeing 737-500, en route to Sofia, experienced severe turbulence due to an unexpected encounter with turbulent airspace. The autopilot was switched off, leading to a period of out-of-control operation. The crew reported to Brindisi Control and requested descent to FL290. Subsequently, another period of severe turbulence occurred, during which a passenger reported a left-hand injury and a crew member sustained a broken leg. The crew contacted Sofia Approach and requested ambulance assistance for the injured.A Boeing 737-500, en route to Sofia, experienced severe turbulence due to an unexpected encounter with turbulent airspace. The autopilot was switched off, leading to a period of out-of-control operation. The crew reported to Brindisi Control and requested descent to FL290. Subsequently, another period of severe turbulence occurred, during which a passenger reported a left-hand injury and a crew member sustained a broken leg. The crew contacted Sofia Approach and requested ambulance assistance for the injured.

Description

Bulgaria Air flight FB472, a Boeing 737-500, was en route to Sofia when the aircraft came upon a zone of severe turbulence. The autopilot was self-switched-off. For short period of time the airplane was out of control. The crew reported to Brindisi Control about severe turbulence at the flight level and asked permission for descent to FL290. Twenty minutes later the aircraft came upon a zone with severe turbulence once again. After aircraft stabilizing the senior cabin attendant reported to the commander captain that a female passenger complained she had suffered an injury of the left hand and a cabin attendant had broken his leg. The crew informed Sofia Approach about on-board situation and asked an ambulance for rendering of qualified help for the injured persons. Main cause Inadvertent and sudden aircraft coming upon zones with severe turbulence and as result of it a passenger and a crew member have suffered a serious injury.

Primary Cause

Unexpected and sudden turbulence encountered during flight, resulting in a serious injury to the passenger and crew member.Unexpected and sudden turbulence encountered during flight, resulting in a serious injury to the passenger and crew member.

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