Air carrier flight crew reported activation of stick shaker on approach to DCA airport.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported activation of stick shaker on approach to DCA airport.
Narrative
On descent into DCA; airport was reporting winds 330/22 gust 37. On vectors to Runway 1 for the Mount Vernon visual; the Crew utilized and decided to switch the approach to RNAV 33 Approach. Potomac Approach gave a descent from 5000 ft. to 4000 ft. and speed of 210 knots. The UP speed was a couple knots below. We were on a 020 degree heading vectors for spacing into the airport. Potomac gave us a left heading 330 to join the localizer for 01. While in heading select; the aircraft rolled into a 30 degree bank turn and the aircraft hit a pocketful moderate turbulence. While in the moderate turbulence; the pitch limit indicator (PLI) instantly came down and the stick shaker momentarily engaged (less than 1 sec). I instantly added power; continued the turn and requested the approach for Runway 33. Proceeded to land without incident.[Suggestions] Changes to AOM. We flew the aircraft in accordance with AOM procedures; the policy to select flaps 5 at the up speed; before decelerating below that speed is dangerous. Using prudent judgement to use flaps 1; at a safe speed; would've prevented this from occurring.
Second reporter narrative
While on descent into DCA we encountered moderate turbulence at about 4000 ft. MSL. The Captain was flying at 210 kts; which was above the Up Bug speed by a few knots. We had light chop in the descent but encountered a gust; which was moderate turbulence. When we hit the gust; the aircraft speed stayed close to 210; maybe a few knots loss to around the Up Bug speed but the pitch limit indicator (PLI) shot down and the stall buffer speed on the airspeed indicator shot up for about one second. The stick shaker very briefly went off; maybe a shake or two. We flew through the gust and the aircraft returned to normal flying conditions after the Captain increased thrust and the wind calmed. We both agreed we needed to give ourselves a larger margin for airspeed gusts and turbulence and set the flaps to 5. We continued to a visual approach to DCA and landed 33. [Suggestions] We followed the flaps procedure in the AOM which wants us to wait until the Flap Bugs speeds to drop flaps and we still didn't have enough margin to avoid the shaker in only moderate turbulence. I think we should be able to have more freedom of judgment when it comes to flap settings.Momentary stick shaker due to turbulence.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.