Be-400 flight crew reported finding themselves sandwiched between restricted airspace on the left an...

Attributes
ACN	1382763
Time
Date	201608
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Beechjet 400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35 Flight Crew Total 9635 Flight Crew Type 1800
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 76 Flight Crew Total 9630 Flight Crew Type 1800
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

After departure enroute to [destination]; we were level at FL280. We encountered a band of thunderstorms in front of us. Since our aircraft is non-rvsm certified; our route would take us into this band of thunderstorms. I requested a left or right deviation in order to circumnavigate the weather we were about to penetrate. ATC informed us that neither left or right deviation would be allowed because our route was surrounded by restricted airspace. ATC used the term 'left or right turns not authorized'. We continued on our route and encountered severe turbulence inside the thunderstorm. Due to turbulence; panels inside the airplane were knocked loose; the FMS and the autopilot consequently became inoperable. We asked for a higher altitude; and ATC's response was: 'the only way I can let you climb into rvsm airspace is if [you request priority handling]'. Since aircraft control became questionable and a non-working flight management system; I [requested priority handling] and an immediate climb to FL340 in order to climb over the top of the thunderstorm in order to regain aircraft control. Upon reaching FL340; we topped the thunderstorm that we had penetrated; and proceeded to our destination in VMC conditions and immediately descended to FL280. We did the preceding due to safety of flight. We reached our destination without further incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE-400 flight crew reported finding themselves sandwiched between Restricted airspace on the left and right; a thunderstorm ahead and RVSM airspace above which the aircraft was not certified for. After entering the thunderstorm the FMC and autopilot failed and the crew elected to climb into RVSM airspace.

Narrative: After departure enroute to [destination]; we were level at FL280. We encountered a band of thunderstorms in front of us. Since our aircraft is non-RVSM certified; our route would take us into this band of thunderstorms. I requested a left or right deviation in order to circumnavigate the weather we were about to penetrate. ATC informed us that neither left or right deviation would be allowed because our route was surrounded by Restricted airspace. ATC used the term 'left or right turns not authorized'. We continued on our route and encountered severe turbulence inside the thunderstorm. Due to turbulence; panels inside the airplane were knocked loose; the FMS and the autopilot consequently became inoperable. We asked for a higher altitude; and ATC's response was: 'the only way I can let you climb into RVSM airspace is if [you request priority handling]'. Since aircraft control became questionable and a non-working Flight Management system; I [requested priority handling] and an immediate climb to FL340 in order to climb over the top of the thunderstorm in order to regain aircraft control. Upon reaching FL340; we topped the thunderstorm that we had penetrated; and proceeded to our destination in VMC conditions and immediately descended to FL280. We did the preceding due to safety of flight. We reached our destination without further incident.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.