Narrative:

As we were being vectored on bse to final for localizer back course runway 34L in rno, we encountered a sharp drop. One of the flight attendants was injured. The following is my recollection of events: descending from FL390 ZOA informed us of light to moderate turbulence on descent into rno. At approximately FL320 and 110 mi from rno, I informed the lead flight attendant about the turbulence and to prepare the cabin for landing and to be seated early. I then followed this with a cabin announcement to the passenger, and the 'flight attendants prepare for landing' announcement. I then turned off the cockpit sterile green light. About 1 min later, the captain briefed the lead flight attendant about the potential code 4 turbulence, and that he would give them their 2 bells early and to be seated. At approximately 15000 ft, 30-40 mi out of rno, approach informed us of moderate turbulence 11000-15000 ft. The captain requested 11000 ft and 250 KTS. He then gave the flight attendants their 2 bells (prepare for landing and be seated). At 11000 ft we heard other pilots reporting moderate turbulence, another aircraft reported a 'severe bump.' the captain slowed to 220 KTS. I then called the lead flight attendant on the interphone to make sure everyone was seated and to remain seated. He said everyone was seated. Approximately 1 min later we received a severe bump lasting less than 1 second. The apt reported the severe turbulence to ATC. I was informed by the lead flight attendant that we had an injury and needed assistance. We contacted rno operations to request the paramedics. We then declared a medical emergency with ATC. Little expediting was required. We were already on base to final. We landed and were met by the paramedics. We later learned that the injured flight attendant got out of her seat to secure something in the galley. One possible preventive measure would be to require flight attendants to remain seated or be seated at a higher altitude, when there is reported moderate turbulence in the arrival area, or airports in mountainous areas with high winds. On a separate issue, during the emergency, I received 4 cabin calls from the flight attendants during a critical phase of flight. The call warning buzzer on the airbus 319/320 is so loud and long that I could not hear the captain or ATC. It interferes with communications. It should be turned down.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 CREW, ON APCH TO RNO, EXPERIENCED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB WITH A RESULTING FLT ATTENDANT INJURY.

Narrative: AS WE WERE BEING VECTORED ON BSE TO FINAL FOR LOC BACK COURSE RWY 34L IN RNO, WE ENCOUNTERED A SHARP DROP. ONE OF THE FLT ATTENDANTS WAS INJURED. THE FOLLOWING IS MY RECOLLECTION OF EVENTS: DSNDING FROM FL390 ZOA INFORMED US OF LIGHT TO MODERATE TURB ON DSCNT INTO RNO. AT APPROX FL320 AND 110 MI FROM RNO, I INFORMED THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT ABOUT THE TURB AND TO PREPARE THE CABIN FOR LNDG AND TO BE SEATED EARLY. I THEN FOLLOWED THIS WITH A CABIN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PAX, AND THE 'FLT ATTENDANTS PREPARE FOR LNDG' ANNOUNCEMENT. I THEN TURNED OFF THE COCKPIT STERILE GREEN LIGHT. ABOUT 1 MIN LATER, THE CAPT BRIEFED THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL CODE 4 TURB, AND THAT HE WOULD GIVE THEM THEIR 2 BELLS EARLY AND TO BE SEATED. AT APPROX 15000 FT, 30-40 MI OUT OF RNO, APCH INFORMED US OF MODERATE TURB 11000-15000 FT. THE CAPT REQUESTED 11000 FT AND 250 KTS. HE THEN GAVE THE FLT ATTENDANTS THEIR 2 BELLS (PREPARE FOR LNDG AND BE SEATED). AT 11000 FT WE HEARD OTHER PLTS RPTING MODERATE TURB, ANOTHER ACFT RPTED A 'SEVERE BUMP.' THE CAPT SLOWED TO 220 KTS. I THEN CALLED THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT ON THE INTERPHONE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS SEATED AND TO REMAIN SEATED. HE SAID EVERYONE WAS SEATED. APPROX 1 MIN LATER WE RECEIVED A SEVERE BUMP LASTING LESS THAN 1 SECOND. THE APT RPTED THE SEVERE TURB TO ATC. I WAS INFORMED BY THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT THAT WE HAD AN INJURY AND NEEDED ASSISTANCE. WE CONTACTED RNO OPS TO REQUEST THE PARAMEDICS. WE THEN DECLARED A MEDICAL EMER WITH ATC. LITTLE EXPEDITING WAS REQUIRED. WE WERE ALREADY ON BASE TO FINAL. WE LANDED AND WERE MET BY THE PARAMEDICS. WE LATER LEARNED THAT THE INJURED FLT ATTENDANT GOT OUT OF HER SEAT TO SECURE SOMETHING IN THE GALLEY. ONE POSSIBLE PREVENTIVE MEASURE WOULD BE TO REQUIRE FLT ATTENDANTS TO REMAIN SEATED OR BE SEATED AT A HIGHER ALT, WHEN THERE IS RPTED MODERATE TURB IN THE ARR AREA, OR ARPTS IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS WITH HIGH WINDS. ON A SEPARATE ISSUE, DURING THE EMER, I RECEIVED 4 CABIN CALLS FROM THE FLT ATTENDANTS DURING A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT. THE CALL WARNING BUZZER ON THE AIRBUS 319/320 IS SO LOUD AND LONG THAT I COULD NOT HEAR THE CAPT OR ATC. IT INTERFERES WITH COMS. IT SHOULD BE TURNED DOWN.

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.