Flight attendant report concerning unexpected turbulence encounter which resulted in the #2 flight a...

Attributes
ACN	392300
Time
Date	199710
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zjx
State Reference	FL
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Qualification	other other : other
ASRS Report	392300
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

About 20-30 mins before landing in mco, we (the crew) experienced an unexpected and sudden case of turbulence. I was working in the first class cabin and immediately called back to the flight attendants working in coach to see if they were strapped into their jump seats. At this point, I myself was strapped into my jump seat. The #4 flight attendant answered the phone. She was strapped into her jump seat and informed me that the #2 flight attendant had fallen in the galley as he was securing loose items in the galley. Upon securing the galley, the #2 flight attendant was able to make it into his jump seat. I then spoke to him and asked if he sustained injuries (if any), and he told me that he might have injured his back. After speaking to him and notifying the captain, it was determined that we should have paramedics meet the flight in mco to assess his condition. He was removed from the trip in mco and taken to a nearby hospital. The only way I see that this could have been prevented is to have been notified by the cockpit of the potential turbulence and instruction to take our seats immediately. I believe it was clear air turbulence, and unpredicted, so I think that it was not possible to do this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT ATTENDANT RPT CONCERNING UNEXPECTED TURB ENCOUNTER WHICH RESULTED IN THE #2 FLT ATTENDANT BEING INJURED FROM A FALL. PARAMEDICS MET THE FLT AND TRANSPORTED THE FLT ATTENDANT TO THE HOSPITAL.

Narrative: ABOUT 20-30 MINS BEFORE LNDG IN MCO, WE (THE CREW) EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPECTED AND SUDDEN CASE OF TURB. I WAS WORKING IN THE FIRST CLASS CABIN AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED BACK TO THE FLT ATTENDANTS WORKING IN COACH TO SEE IF THEY WERE STRAPPED INTO THEIR JUMP SEATS. AT THIS POINT, I MYSELF WAS STRAPPED INTO MY JUMP SEAT. THE #4 FLT ATTENDANT ANSWERED THE PHONE. SHE WAS STRAPPED INTO HER JUMP SEAT AND INFORMED ME THAT THE #2 FLT ATTENDANT HAD FALLEN IN THE GALLEY AS HE WAS SECURING LOOSE ITEMS IN THE GALLEY. UPON SECURING THE GALLEY, THE #2 FLT ATTENDANT WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT INTO HIS JUMP SEAT. I THEN SPOKE TO HIM AND ASKED IF HE SUSTAINED INJURIES (IF ANY), AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE MIGHT HAVE INJURED HIS BACK. AFTER SPEAKING TO HIM AND NOTIFYING THE CAPT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PARAMEDICS MEET THE FLT IN MCO TO ASSESS HIS CONDITION. HE WAS REMOVED FROM THE TRIP IN MCO AND TAKEN TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL. THE ONLY WAY I SEE THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IS TO HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE COCKPIT OF THE POTENTIAL TURB AND INSTRUCTION TO TAKE OUR SEATS IMMEDIATELY. I BELIEVE IT WAS CLR AIR TURB, AND UNPREDICTED, SO I THINK THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO DO THIS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.

Flight attendant report concerning unexpected turbulence encounter which resulted in the #2 flight attendant being injured from a fall. Paramedics met the flight and transported the flight attendant to the hospital.