ACR X INFLT ENCOUNTER WX TSTM TURB HAD FLT ATTENDANT PAX INJURY.

Narrative

ACR X WX DEV; N OF AIRWAY; LEVEL AT FL310; IN CLOUDS; AVOIDING CELLS ON WX RADAR. LIGHT CHOP AT TIME AND PASSING BY LAST CELL ON RADAR OFF TO R SIDE OF ACFT. WE RECEIVED 2 QUICK JOLTS OF MODERATE TURB AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BROKE OUT INTO CLR; SMOOTH AIR. THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS ON AT THE TIME. VERY LITTLE ALTDEV WAS CAUSED BY THE TURB; POSSIBLY 150 FT. THE FO WAS FLYING THE ACFT AT THE TIME. PAX AND FLT ATTENDANTS WERE INJURED (PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SEATED WITH THEIR SEAT BELTS FASTENED). UP TO THE TIME OF THE TURB; WE WERE IN CONTINUOUS LIGHT CHOP; WITH NO WARNING OF THE 2 QUICK JOLTS OF TURB THAT WE ENCOUNTERED. WE REQUESTED RETURN TO MIA; AND ADVISED ZMA OF THE TURB AND INJURIES ON BOARD. AN OVER WT WAS MADE AT MIA (APPROX 12000 LBS ABOVE MAX OF 310000 LBS ON THE WDB. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 230701: ACR X CHKED ON MY FREQ CLBING TO FL230 REQUESTING FL310. I CLBED HIM TO FL310. APPROX 45 MI N OF MIA ON J86 (OUT OF FL280 FOR FL310) HE REQUESTED A 270 DEG HDG FOR WX. I CALLED THE ADJOINING SECTOR TO GET THE 270 DEG HDG APPROVED (SECTOR 25). THEY DISAPPROVE THE W DEV. I ADVISED ACR X THAT THE NEXT SECTOR WAS UNABLE. I ADVISED HIM WHERE OTHER ACFT HAD DEVIATED AROUND THE WX AND GOT SMOOTH RIDES. SINCE HE WAS STARTING TO ENTER THE WX ON MY RADAR PVD I TOLD HIM HE COULD TURN FROM HIS 270 DEG HDG TO 040 DEG HDG TO GAR THE E SIDE OF WX. HE WANTED TO GO S AWAY FROM WX AND COME AROUND THE E SIDE; HE COULD MAKE A L 360 DEG TURN AND ROLL OUT ON 340 DEG HDG TO STAY CLR. HE SAID HE WOULD LIKE A 360 DEG HDG. I ISSUED A 010 DEG HDG TO KEEP HIM CLR OF ADJOINING SECTOR. FOR ABOUT 5 MI AND THEN CLRED ACR X TO DEVIATE BTWN A 320 DEG HDG AND 020 DEG HDG. AS HE GOT TO THE N EDGE OF THE WX I ASKED HIM HOW HIS RIDE WAS. HE SAID A LITTLE BIT OF CHOP; BUT BASICALLY A GOOD RIDE. THE ADJOINING SECTOR NOW HAD THE HDOF AND WAS READY TO ACCEPT THE ACFT INTO THEIR AIRSPACE. THE ACFT WAS ABEAM LBV VORTAC AND SAID HE GOT A FEW GOOD BUMPS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CELL. I SHIPPED THE ACFT TO THE ADJOINING SECTOR. TO PREVENT THIS OCCURRENCE: 1) TFC PERMITTING; IF THE ADJOINING SECTOR COULD HAVE ACCEPTED ACFT ON A 270 DEG HDG; HE WOULD HAVE STAYED S OF THE WX. 2) IF THE PLT WOULD HAVE GONE E AROUND THE WX LIKE I HAD SUGGESTED ON A 040 DEG HDG OR 360 DEG L TURN; WHERE SMOOTH RIDES WERE RPTED; THE ACCIDENT/INCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 231173: I WAS WORKING R25 WITH A TRACKER AND D-SIDE. WE WERE EXTREMELY BUSY WITH WX AND E COAST BEING SHUT OFF. D-SIDE RECEIVED A CALL WANTING TO GO TO A 270 DEG HDG AT FL230. WE SAID UNABLE DUE TO TFC. 5-10 MINS LATER; AFTER WE HAD HDOF; CAME ON FREQ LEVEL AT FL310 AND STATED 'WE NEED TO RETURN TO MIA; WE HAVE INJURIES ON BOARD.' I GAVE HIM A R TURN TO 180 DEG HDG AND WHEN S OF WX DIRECT THE ARPT.