Narrative:

Descending from FL390, we were informed of moderate turbulence into rno. We were slowed to 260 KTS in the descent by ZOA. I informed the lead flight attendant of the good possibility of a moderate turbulence encounter. We discussed that his arrival bells would be early so as to have everyone seated before the encounter. Descending to 15000 ft, we were handed off to rno approach and advised of light to moderate turbulence from 14000 ft to 11000 ft. I slowed to 250 KTS and gave the cabin 2 bells. Cleared to 11000 ft, speed brakes were used to expedite the descent leveling at 11000 ft. We heard an air carrier flight somewhere on the frequency report a severe 'bump.' then first officer called the lead flight attendant to ensure everyone was seated. I slowed to 220 KTS and placed the ignition to 'on.' the first officer informed me that everyone was seated, and about 60 seconds later a severe jolt was experienced. The cabin/cockpit interphone buzzed and we were informed of a passenger injury. More quick calls were made to the cockpit to update the situation. An ambulance was requested through rno operations and shortly thereafter, a medical emergency was declared through rno approach. I had to request the first officer to stop communication with the cabin. As the buzzer on the A320 is long and loud, and was starting to interfere with ATC communications. A normal approach and landing were accomplished and paramedics were brought on board to render assistance to the injured party who happened to be one of our flight attendants.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ENCOUNTERS TURB DURING APCH. FLT ATTENDANT INJURED.

Narrative: DSNDING FROM FL390, WE WERE INFORMED OF MODERATE TURB INTO RNO. WE WERE SLOWED TO 260 KTS IN THE DSCNT BY ZOA. I INFORMED THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT OF THE GOOD POSSIBILITY OF A MODERATE TURB ENCOUNTER. WE DISCUSSED THAT HIS ARR BELLS WOULD BE EARLY SO AS TO HAVE EVERYONE SEATED BEFORE THE ENCOUNTER. DSNDING TO 15000 FT, WE WERE HANDED OFF TO RNO APCH AND ADVISED OF LIGHT TO MODERATE TURB FROM 14000 FT TO 11000 FT. I SLOWED TO 250 KTS AND GAVE THE CABIN 2 BELLS. CLRED TO 11000 FT, SPD BRAKES WERE USED TO EXPEDITE THE DSCNT LEVELING AT 11000 FT. WE HEARD AN ACR FLT SOMEWHERE ON THE FREQ RPT A SEVERE 'BUMP.' THEN FO CALLED THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT TO ENSURE EVERYONE WAS SEATED. I SLOWED TO 220 KTS AND PLACED THE IGNITION TO 'ON.' THE FO INFORMED ME THAT EVERYONE WAS SEATED, AND ABOUT 60 SECONDS LATER A SEVERE JOLT WAS EXPERIENCED. THE CABIN/COCKPIT INTERPHONE BUZZED AND WE WERE INFORMED OF A PAX INJURY. MORE QUICK CALLS WERE MADE TO THE COCKPIT TO UPDATE THE SIT. AN AMBULANCE WAS REQUESTED THROUGH RNO OPS AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, A MEDICAL EMER WAS DECLARED THROUGH RNO APCH. I HAD TO REQUEST THE FO TO STOP COM WITH THE CABIN. AS THE BUZZER ON THE A320 IS LONG AND LOUD, AND WAS STARTING TO INTERFERE WITH ATC COMS. A NORMAL APCH AND LNDG WERE ACCOMPLISHED AND PARAMEDICS WERE BROUGHT ON BOARD TO RENDER ASSISTANCE TO THE INJURED PARTY WHO HAPPENED TO BE ONE OF OUR FLT ATTENDANTS.

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.