Incident Details
According to the pilot, while descending at an indicated airspeed of 170 miles per hour (mph), the flight encountered moderate to severe clear air turbulence. The pilot then felt a momentary vibration through the airframe and reduced power. The flight continued toward the planned destination and made an uneventful landing.
Post-Landing Inspection
Following the landing, inspection of the airframe revealed that the rear bulkhead was cracked and that both stabilators and both ruddervators were damaged. The ruddervators were removed and were found to be within prescribed limits for static balance checks.
Airspeed Reference
The flight manual for the airplane indicated that the beginning of the caution range (VB) was 164 mph. The airspeed at the time of the turbulence encounter was 170 mph, which exceeds this caution range threshold.