ACR WDB INFLT WX ENCOUNTER TURBULENCE. LOSS OF ACFT CONTROL. ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative

FORTY MILES SOUTH OF CHAMP INTERSECTION ON A 300 ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE WHILE CIRCUMNAVING WEATHER. LIGHTNING AND HAIL WERE ENCOUNTERED AND ALTITUDE WAS LAST DUE TO THE ENCOUNTER. ATC WAS ADVISED AND WE WERE ADVISED TO MAINTAIN 32;000 AND THEN 31;000. THE DAMAGE TO THE ACFT WAS A DAMAGED 1ST OFFICER'S WINDOW AND PAINT PEELED OFF THE RADOME. NO INJURIES TO THE PASSENGERS ALTHOUGH THE PARAMEDICS WERE ADVISED TO MEET THE ACFT. THE COMPLETION OF THE FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL. THE LOSS OF ALTITUDE FROM 35;000 TO 30;000+ WAS COMPLETELY BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE CREW; AND THE ATC PEOPLE WERE HELPFUL WHILE THE RECOVERY OF ALTITUDE WAS BEING ATTEMPTED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: THE ACFT RADAR WAS ON AND WORKING BUT NOT PAINTING ANY WX OF THE TYPE ENCOUNTERED. ALTHOUGH WX AROUND ANOTHER FLT JUST AHEAD OF WDB ON SAME AIRWAY WENT THROUGH AT 31000 WITH NO TURBULENCE. WDB WAS IN CONTACT WITH PRECEDING FLT AND ARTCC ALTHOUGH STILL OUT OF RADAR RANGE. REPORTED TO COMPANY BUT HAD HAD NO INQUIRY FROM FAA.