LTT CREW ENCOUNTERS TSTM AFTER DEP FROM AGS.

Narrative

AUGUSTA (AGS) WAS USING RWY 17. WX (TSTMS) WERE S OF THE ARPT AND WE WERE PAINTING IT ON RADAR. AFTER DEP; WE ASKED FOR TURN TO THE NW; AND RECEIVED THAT AND A CLB TO FL180. AT APPROX 9000 FT AGL; WE WENT IMC AND EXPERIENCED RAIN AND MODERATE TURB. WE STOPPED PAINTING WX AS WE ROLLED OUT ON A 330 DEG HDG; BUT WERE STILL IMC; AND BEGAN TO GET MORE SEVERE TURB. WE ASKED FOR A HIGHER ALT BUT THE CTLR SAID WE HAD LOST MODE C. AT THIS POINT; WE WERE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT (FL180) DUE TO UPDRAFTS IN EXCESS OF 4000 FPM. WE WERE ENCOUNTERING MODERATE ICE (RIME) AND MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB. WE RELAYED THIS TO ATC AND ASKED FOR A TURN WHEN ABLE (FURTHER N). THE UPDRAFTS LESSENED AFTER APPROX 2-3 MINS; BUT THEY HAD PUSHED US TO FL220. WE WERE THEN ASKED BY ATC IF AND WHEN WE COULD TURN L ON COURSE; AND GIVEN FL230. ABOUT 2 MINS LATER WE BEGAN TO BREAK OUT; AND WERE ABLE TO RESUME COURSE S TO PIE (DEST) AND GIVEN DIRECT HEADING. THE RADAR EQUIP WAS APPARENTLY FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. UPON LNDG AT PIE; WE DISCOVERED THAT THE NOSE CONE HAD BEEN DAMAGED BY HAIL. WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAD RESPONDED TO THIS SIT AS WELL AS POSSIBLE; MAINTAINING AIRSPD; HEADING; AND NOT TRYING TO CHASE ALT. THE UPDRAFTS WERE EXCESSIVE. ALL ICE PROTECTION HAD BEEN TURNED ON; BUT THE RADAR SIGNATURE WAS PROBABLY INTERFERED WITH DUE TO THE DAMAGED NOSE CONE. OUR WX BRIEFING FROM FSS HAD SUGGESTED A NW COURSE TO AVOID THESE STORMS; AND WITH RADAR WE TOOK THAT COURSE; NOT KNOWING THAT THE RADAR HAD POSSIBLY MALFUNCTIONED.