ACR MLG FLC ENCOUNTERS SEVERE TURB; EXPERIENCES LOSS OF ACFT CTL SW OF OAL.

Date: 1992-02 · Aircraft: Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng

Anomalies: inflight-event-encounter-loss-of-aircraft-control|inflight-event-encounter-weather-turbulence

Synopsis

ACR MLG FLC ENCOUNTERS SEVERE TURB; EXPERIENCES LOSS OF ACFT CTL SW OF OAL.

Narrative

WE WERE VECTORED S OF COURSE AT COALDALE AT FL310. WE WERE TOLD BY ATC TO EXPECT LIGHT TO MODERATE TURB. WE REQUESTED A LOWER ALT BUT WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS WORSE LOWER. AFTER TURNING BACK TO THE N WE ENCOUNTERED VERY SEVERE TURB; REQUESTED A TURN W AND A DSCNT; BUT WAS TOLD UNABLE DUE TO RESTR AREA. FINALLY GOT A CLRNC TO DSND TO FL270. DURING DSCNT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE WINDSHEAR AND SEVERE TURB TO THE POINT OF LOSING SOME CTL OF THE ACFT AT VARIOUS TIMES. TURB SO SEVERE YOU COULD NOT REACH VARIOUS CTLS AND SWITCHES AS WERE NECESSARY. AT ONE POINT; WE LOST 50 KTS INSTANTLY AT WHICH TIME THE L WING DROPPED 30 DEGREES AND THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN 10 DEGS; WE ADDED PWR AND REGAINED SPD AND CTL. LOST SOME CTL AT LEAST TWICE IN THE SHEAR. CAME OUT OF TURB AT FL200; REST OF THE FLT WAS NORMAL. CALLED COMPANY AND REQUESTED ACFT BE CHKED FOR AIRWORTHINESS PRIOR TO NEXT FLT OUT OF SAN JOSE. LNDG IN SAN JOSE WAS NORMAL. ALL PAX AND CREW WERE IN THEIR SEATS WITH SEAT BELTS FASTENED PRIOR TO TURB. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR COMPLAINTS PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE FLT. FLT RECORDER WAS PULLED FOR READ OUT AND ACFT CHKED AND SIGNED OFF FOR FLT BY MAINT. AN EMER COULD HAVE BEEN DECLARED BY ME TO ENTER THE RESTR AREA; AND NEXT TIME THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WILL DO; BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET A MESSAGE TO THE FAA AND THE MIL THAT THE SAFETY OF ANY ACFT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PRACTICING WAR GAMES. ATC NEEDS TO BE MORE IN TUNE WITH THE MEANING OF SEVERE TURB AND IMMEDIATELY GIVE AN ACFT WHAT IT NEEDS TO EXIT THIS AREA EVEN IF IT MEANS CLRING A RESTR AREA. I BELIEVE THAT OUR CTLR DID HIS BEST BY THE RULES HE HAS TO FOLLOW; IT'S THE RULES THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.