CE550 flight crew reported temporary loss of aircraft control and altitude loss due to encountering severe turbulence.
Synopsis
CE550 flight crew reported temporary loss of aircraft control and altitude loss due to encountering severe turbulence.
Narrative
On Day 0 around XA45 while in ZZZ center airspace at FL380 We flew into a thunderstorm cell that we and ATC believed to be moderate turbulence in nature. Before entering the cell we were in an IMC layer; popping out of the layer we saw the cell that looked wider and taller than it did on our plane radar. My PIC and I discussed possible deviations but because we were just out IMC; close proximity to the cell; ATC having a high workload and assumption of the cell being moderate in nature; we continued on route of flight. Once inside the cell we experienced severe turbulence with a loss of altitude of 2000 feet. ATC called us and notified us on the drop of altitude while we were still experiencing the severe turbulence. Our autopilot disconnected and we gained control of the aircraft at FL360. Once we gained control of the aircraft; we notified ATC of the severe turbulence. We were given vectors out of the cell. A request of deviations sooner with ATC and being proactive with route planning will prevent this in the future. This event resulted in no damage to the aircraft or injuries to pilots. There were no passengers on board.
Second reporter narrative
During cruise flight over the ZZZ area; thunderstorms were in the vicinity. By using weather resources inside the plane and talking to ATC about our routing around the cells we showed to have good routing around the heavy and extreme cells. After coming out of an imc layer we saw a cell build up in front of us. Due to high volume on ATC frequency and space between the aircraft and cell we were unable to deviate around it. We encountered severe turbulence and lost 2;000 feet in altitude before being able to level off at 36;000 feet where we stabilized. ATC asked us what our altitude was and then we told them the new altitude and reported the severe turbulence to them. We were given vectors out of the turbulence and continued flight to our destination after determining there was no injuries to the crew; who were the only souls on board; and no damage to the airplane. To prevent a recurrence; a proactive action to reach ATC sooner to receive deviation clearance can be done.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.