B737-300 FLT CREW ENCOUNTERS MOMENTARY SEVERE TURB WHILE TRANSITING AREA OF TSTMS; PAX INJURED.

Narrative

AT FL340; RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF TSTMS 160 NM AHEAD RUNNING ABOUT 120 MI N AND S. I REQUESTED; AND WAS CLRED FOR A 10-15 DEG L DEV FOR STORM AVOIDANCE. THERE WAS A 20 NM BREAK BTWN THE MAIN LINE OF RETURNS AND THE SOUTHERNMOST CELL; AND I DECIDED TO FLY THROUGH THAT GAP. ABOUT 20-30 MINS PRIOR TO THE ENCOUNTER; I ILLUMINATED THE SEATBELT SIGNS AND ADVISED THE PAX OF POTENTIAL TURB. THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE ADVISED VIA INTERCOM TO PREPARE THE CABIN FOR POTENTIAL MODERATE TURB; AND TO BE SEATED. APPROX 2/3 THROUGH THE BREAK WE ENCOUNTERED APPROX 10 SECONDS OF SEVERE TURB WITH A R 30-40 DEG DSNDING ROLL (1000-1500 FPM). DURING THIS TIME THE AUTOPLT REVERTED TO CTL WHEEL STEERING AND THE FO (PF) MANUALLY RESUMED CTL WHILE I REQUESTED AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO FL320. A FEW SECONDS LATER WE WERE CLR OF CLOUDS IN SMOOTH AIR. FOLLOWING THE EVENT; I COMMUNICATED WITH ATC; FLT ATTENDANTS; AND DISPATCH. FLT ATTENDANTS ADVISED 1 PAX; NOT WEARING SEATBELT; WAS INJURED WITH BRUISED HEAD AND NECK AREA. INJURED PAX ATTENDED TO BY PAX RN AND EMT. COORD WITH MEDLINK. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 693776: I ROLLED WINGS LEVEL AND ALLOWED ACFT TO DSND SO AS NOT TO INCREASE WING LOADING. CAPT REQUESTED AND RECEIVED FL320. WE EXITED TURB INTO SMOOTH AIR.