AN INFLT ENCOUNTER TSTMS TURB CAUSED A PERSONAL INJURY TO A CABIN ATTENDANT.

Narrative

FLT WAS CRUISING AT FL410 PASSING OVER A LINE OF TSTMS CELLS WHEN THE FO HAD TO DSND TO MEET AN ATC ALT RESTR. THERE WAS A LINE OF TSTM CELLS IN THIS AREA WITH TOPS AROUND 35000 FT. THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A SHARP UPDRAFT PASSING OVER ONE OF THE STORM CELLS AT 37000 FT. THE UPDRAFT CAUSED THE ACFT TO CLB ABOUT 300 FT IN MODERATE TURB WHICH LASTED ABOUT 10 SECONDS. FLT ATTENDANT X WAS WORKING IN THE AFT GALLEY AND WAS THROWN AGAINST A SERVING CART INJURING HER SIDE. A DOCTOR ATTENDED TO X AND ADVISED TRANSPORTATION TO A HOSPITAL FOR X-RAYS UPON ARR AT DCA. A PARAMEDIC TEAM MET THE ACFT ON ARR AND REMOVED X FROM THE AFT GALLEY AREA OF THE ACFT; AND TRANSPORTED HER TO THE LCL DCA HOSPITAL AND THE TSTM CONDITIONS ALONG THE RTE OF FLT. THE TURB WAS NOT RPTED BY ACFT AHEAD OF OUR FLT AND WAS A SURPRISE AS TO ITS INTENSITY. THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE TOLD TO EXPECT TURB ALONG THE RTE DUE TO THE AREA OF TSTMS; BUT WERE NOT EXPECTING ANYTHING THAT SEVERE. TURB RPTED TO ATC AS BEING MODERATE TO SEVERE IN DSCNT. A DOCTOR WAS LOCATED ON THE ACFT TO CARE FOR X'S INJURIES; AND THE ACFT MEDICAL KIT WAS USED BY THE DOCTOR. A MEDICAL TEAM WAS ASKED TO MEET THE FLT ON ARR TO TRANSPORT X TO THE LCL HOSPITAL. AN AIR SAFETY RPT WAS FAXED TO OPS ON ARR AND PLACED IN AIR SAFETY MAIL BOX ON ARR AT MSP. NASA RPT FOR INFO SENT ON JUL/XX/94. LETTER SENT TO UNION AIR SAFETY COMMITTEE.