CAPT OF AN LGT FLEW THROUGH SEVERE CLR AIR TURB WITH ONLY A MINOR LOSS AND GAIN OF ALT. HOWEVER; THE AIRSPD DID FLUCTUATE WIDELY. THE FO RPTED TO ATC THAT THE TURB WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE CAPT LOST MOMENTARY ACFT CTL.

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WE ENCOUNTERED UNEXPECTED SEVERE/EXTREME TURB IN CLR AIR AT FL330 APPROX 10 NM E OF THE TEXICO VOR. THIS OCCURRENCE WAS TOTALLY SURPRISING SINCE WE HAD EXITED VMC CONDITIONS AND MODERATE TURB JUST A FEW MINS (APPROX) BEFORE THIS EVENT. I WAS THE PF AND WHEN IT OCCURRED; I IMMEDIATELY RETARDED THE THROTTLES TO IDLE; MANUALLY DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND COUNTERED ALL THE OSCILLATIONS AND PITCHES IN AN EXTREMELY TIMELY MANNER; SO THAT; WHILE WE WERE BUMPED AROUND PRETTY GOOD; THE AIRPLANE WAS NEVER OUT OF MY CTL. I WOULD SAY THE AIRSPD FLUCTUATED BTWN .82 TO .91 MACH (APPROX). I BELIEVE WE GAINED ABOUT 200 FT IN ALT AND EVEN THAT WAS VERY MOMENTARY. WITHOUT WANTING TO SOUND 'BRAGGADOCIO;' I BELIEVE THAT MY RECOVERY TECHNIQUE WAS 'TEXTBOOK PERFECT.' THIS ENTIRE EVENT LASTED ABOUT 30-45 SECONDS IN MY ESTIMATION. THE PROB WITH ALL THIS HINGES ON HOW MY FO RPTED THIS TO ATC. I'M NOT POSITIVE ABOUT WHAT HE EXACTLY SAID; BUT IT MAY HAVE BEEN THAT WE HAVE A 'LOSS OF CTL;' EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE. I KNOW FOR SURE THAT HE IMMEDIATELY BLURTED OUT SOMETHING TO ATC AS I WAS REACTING TO THE TURB INSTEAD OF 'KEEPING HIS COOL' AND BACKING ME UP ON THE INSTS DURING THE RECOVERY. WHATEVER HE RPTED WAS DONE IN HASTE AND WE GOT ATC'S ATTN VERY QUICKLY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. IN ESSENCE; I BELIEVE MY FO CAUSED UNDUE CONCERN BY IMMEDIATELY JUMPING ON THE RADIO WITH AN IMMENSELY EXAGGERATED RPT OF 'LOSS OF CTL.' I WISH HE HAD SIMPLY BACKED ME UP ON THE INSTS FOR A MIN OR SO AND THEN WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN BACK TO ATC. A CAPT CAN'T REALLY CTL WHAT COMES OUT OF THE FO'S MOUTH AND THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE. THE REST OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL AND WE WROTE UP OUR TURB ENCOUNTER IN THE AML UPON OUR ARR AT AFW.