Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 1 February 1997
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30
Owner/operator: Air Libert
Registration Number: F-GPVD
Location: Near Guadeloupe –
ÿ Atlantic Ocean
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Minor, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 355
Component Affected: Aircraft systems (seat belt, flight control, navigation)Aircraft systems (seat belt, flight control, navigation)
Category: Accident
An aircraft experienced severe turbulence during a cruise flight at FL310, resulting in multiple passenger injuries and a roll. The turbulence was exacerbated by insufficient convective weather data and a rapid change in Mach number.An aircraft experienced severe turbulence during a cruise flight at FL310, resulting in multiple passenger injuries and a roll. The turbulence was exacerbated by insufficient convective weather data and a rapid change in Mach number.
Description
During cruise at FL310, the aircraft entered an area of weak turbulence. The seat belt sign was illuminated followed by announcements. The turbulence then increased in severity. Passengers at the rear of the aircraft were thrown to the ceiling three times. The Temsi charts did not show any convective or clear-air turbulence areas along the route at the planned flight levels. The mach number went from 0.84 to 0.87 and then 0.73. the aircraft climbed to FL320 and descended back to FL295. Roll reached 20 deg right. Load factors ranged between 1.8 and -0.4. Lateral acceleration ranged between -0.15 and 0.19g. Two occupants suffered serious injuries.
Primary Cause
Insufficient convective weather data and rapid Mach number change during turbulence.Insufficient convective weather data and rapid Mach number change during turbulence.Share on:
