B747 flight attendant reports falling while descending the steps from the upper deck due to a failed...

Narrative:

During flight when cabin lighting was dim for passengers to rest after dinner meal service; I walked down the stairs. When I reached the number 3 step from bottom; I fell down the stairs to the galley on to the floor. Later in flight I again went down the stairs and fell; first crashing into the coat closet to try and regain my balance. Another flight attendant witnessed my loud falls. Apparently one other flight attendant fell down the stairs as well and so did the purser who stumbled. We realized afterwards that stair number 2 had no lighting which made it appear that the bottom step was actually the third step from the bottom. Thus; we fell unsuspectingly 3 steps to the floor. This was a severe jolt to my neck; back and both knees. I was sore my entire layover. After the flight the first officer told us that the issue had been written up and deferred. She noted that several flight attendants had fallen down the stairs. We were not aware of this safety issue before the flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B747 Flight Attendant reports falling while descending the steps from the upper deck due to a failed light on the third step from the bottom. Other flight attendants reportedly fell or stumbled during the same flight.

Narrative: During flight when cabin lighting was dim for passengers to rest after dinner meal service; I walked down the stairs. When I reached the Number 3 step from bottom; I fell down the stairs to the galley on to the floor. Later in flight I again went down the stairs and fell; first crashing into the coat closet to try and regain my balance. Another Flight Attendant witnessed my loud falls. Apparently one other Flight Attendant fell down the stairs as well and so did the Purser who stumbled. We realized afterwards that stair Number 2 had no lighting which made it appear that the bottom step was actually the third step from the bottom. Thus; we fell unsuspectingly 3 steps to the floor. This was a severe jolt to my neck; back and both knees. I was sore my entire layover. After the flight the First Officer told us that the issue had been written up and deferred. She noted that several flight attendants had fallen down the stairs. We were not aware of this safety issue before the flight.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1094783
Time
Date	201306
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B747-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Other Entire Flight
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Cabin Lighting
Person 1
Function	Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Qualification	Flight Attendant Current
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness

B747 flight attendant reports falling while descending the steps from the upper deck due to a failed light on the third step from the bottom. Other flight attendants reportedly fell or stumbled during the same flight.