B717 (Formerly MD-95)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; General Maintenance Action; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Human Factors; Aircraft
This event occurred during taxi-in to the gate. After waiting for the ground crew to get in position; we began forward motion. As we started an approximately 90 degree right turn to the marshaling line; the aircraft stopped turning and went straight. I looked over to the Captain and saw him turning the nose steering wheel to the right. The aircraft did not respond to nose wheel steering inputs. I was not sure of the problem; but I considered a hydraulic failure as a cause. I looked out the windshield and noted that we were still moving forward and approaching the terminal building. I firmly applied the brakes; and the aircraft stopped abruptly. While coordinating with ops to be pulled into the gate; we learned that the R1 Flight Attendant had been thrown from her jump seat and hit her shoulder on the back of a passenger seat. After being tugged into the gate; the shutdown was uneventful. We later learned that a broken steering cable was the cause. While the incident was caused by a mechanical failure; the injury was caused by abrupt braking. With more information; time; and better communication between the flight crew; the abrupt braking MAY have been avoided.
A Flight Attendant was thrown against a passenger seat and injured her shoulder when the flight crew was forced to brake abruptly due to the loss of nose wheel steering as they approached the gate in a 90 degree turn and the steering castered to straight ahead toward the terminal.