Flight crew reported conducting a missed approach due to severe turbulence; heavy rain and zero visibility along with a diversion to a nearby airport where conditions were better.
Synopsis
Flight crew reported conducting a missed approach due to severe turbulence; heavy rain and zero visibility along with a diversion to a nearby airport where conditions were better.
Narrative
We were scheduled to arrive at ORL Runway 7 but due to bad weather and thunderstorms the approach course was not useable. ATC advised us Runway 25 was clear and the winds were light. We setup for the ILS 25. About 15-20 miles out ATC Approach advised that the Tower said the radar is painting weather on the field but the runway is clear. We were cleared for the approach. Once we intercepted the localizer and glide slope the runway was not in sight and we could see the large storms had taken over the field. As we entered the heavy rain the visibility went to zero and we got into strong turbulence. I called for a missed approach around 2 1/2 to 3 miles out. The main storm was to our immediate right so we could not turn that way and approach helped us to avoid it with vectors as we were IMC. I was hanging on the yoke with both hands due to the strong turbulence. I felt the downdrafts pushing us down so I was trying to climb away from the ground. We tried leveling between 1500 and 1700 but the turbulence was pushing us up and down. Approach then cleared us to 2000 feet and we broke out into VMC and diverted to ZZZ for an uneventful landing. We never received a TA or RA and never saw a target on TCAS. We were advised to call Orlando Approach while we were taxiing in at our diversion airport ZZZ. Identification: ATC advised us to call Orlando Approach. Cause: Bad weather; large thunderstorms; strong turbulence combined with updrafts and downdrafts and visibility down to zero due to heavy rain. Also the fact that ATC told us the runway was clear of weather lead us to believe that we could get in without problem but that ended up not being the case. The extreme weather to our immediate right prohibited us from following the published missed into a thunderstorm. And the downdrafts pushing the jet down prompted me to climb away from the ground as soon as we got into the extreme weather. For safety of the flight--we were not able to wait until the missed approach point to start the climb. Response: Executed a missed approach due to extreme weather and zero visibility due to heavy rain. Suggestions: Orlando Approach relaying that the field was clear led us to believe it would basically be a visual approach and instead turned into a very turbulent approach and go around in surrounding bad weather and storms that left us with few options.
Second reporter narrative
Arriving into ORL we planned on Runway 7 and we're on vectors. ATC advised thunderstorms were on and around the field and advised Runway 25 was clear. We re set up and we're vectored around weather. Once turned in on an ILS for 25 we saw the storm moving onto airport. We encountered moderate turbulence/updraft downdrafts. A go around was initiated but we could not turn right as the area of intense weather was in the way. We advised Tower we were going around and climbed out to about 1500 and were given 2000 and handed over to Approach Control. Approach Control gave us a climb to 4000 and a left turn to avoid weather. We diverted to ZZZ. Upon landing we were asked to call MCO Approach over a TCAS that someone reacted to. We never received an RA or TA and never saw another aircraft on TCAS.Identification: Strong turbulence and rain from storm along w loss of visibility.Cause: Severe weather on the field at ORL. Response: Initiated a go around.Suggestions: We should have worked out alternative missed procedure due to weather.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.