PLT OF LOW WING RETRACTABLE SINGLE ENG ACFT ENCOUNTERS A RAPID LOSS OF ALT WHEN ENTERING AN AREA OF STORMS.

Narrative

ENRTE FROM WEST PALM BEACH TO CHARLOTTE; NC; WE CIRCUMNAVED SEVERAL STORMS THAT WE SAW VISUALLY; ON OUR STORM SCOPE; AND ON ATC RADAR. WE HAD JUST FINISHED GOING AROUND A STORM OVER CHS. CHS APCH SAID IT LOOKED CLR AHEAD AND CLRED US DIRECT TO CHARLOTTE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER; WE FLEW INTO AN AREA OF MODERATE RAIN -- NO TURB; JUST RAIN. WITHOUT WARNING; WE SUDDENLY STARTED DSNDING VERY RAPIDLY. WE LOST 5000 FT IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS -- 10000 FPM RATE OF DSCNT. VNE IN THIS AIRPLANE IS 196 KTS AND THE AIRSPD INDICATOR WAS PEGGED AT THE HIGH END (OVER 200 KTS). THE GEAR LIMIT SPD IS 153 KTS AND I DROPPED THE GEAR TO HELP SLOW DOWN. WITH A VERNIER THROTTLE; I WAS NOT ABLE TO REDUCE PWR TO SLOW FURTHER. THE LNDG GEAR CIRCUIT BREAKER APPARENTLY POPPED AS THE GEAR DOORS OPENED. THIS WAS ACTUALLY GOOD; AS IT PROTECTED THE GEAR DOORS. I GOT THE AIRPLANE UNDER CTL; OBSERVED THE 'GEAR IN TRANSIT' LIGHT; RESET THE CIRCUIT BREAKER; AND GOT THE GEAR DOWN WITH 3 GREEN LIGHTS. WE DIVERTED TO FLO AND GOT THE AIRPLANE INSPECTED; INCLUDING A GEAR SWING. NO DAMAGE TO AIRFRAME OR LNDG GEAR. CONTINUED ON TO CHARLOTTE.