Small aircraft lost 500' while trying to recover from 'severe' turbulence.

Attributes
ACN	177679
Time
Date	199105
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pzd
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7500 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : owd
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v159
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	177679
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : non radar
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

*I was on V159 8000' 15-20 due to loss of navigation signal from pzd but DME on. I reported loss of navigation. I was informed that center had no radar operative at that time. I informed center I would proceed ? Time and heading and DME to approximately pzd and continue to euf. Another aircraft below me confirmed that pzd navigation VOR was out. Due to a large rain shower that I exited at approximately pzd I informed center I would proceed a few mi north of pzd for WX. I was clear of cloud. When I encountered severe turbulence and loss of aircraft control. I reduced power to idle and lost 500' from 8000 to 7500' before I was able to contact center and get altitude change clearance. After descent to 7000' and in a few mins(?), I was able to receive euf VOR and I completed my flight west/O problem. Navigation problem was with pzd pecan VOR. Recommend: flight IFR clearance not be given into a non radar area west/O full functioning on the ground VOR's/NDB's to define arwys, my altitude loss was a real problem due to lack of 'altitude'? Possitions(?) into the controllers to keep me clear of other traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA LOST 500' WHILE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM 'SEVERE' TURBULENCE.

Narrative: *I WAS ON V159 8000' 15-20 DUE TO LOSS OF NAV SIGNAL FROM PZD BUT DME ON. I RPTED LOSS OF NAV. I WAS INFORMED THAT CENTER HAD NO RADAR OPERATIVE AT THAT TIME. I INFORMED CENTER I WOULD PROCEED ? TIME AND HDG AND DME TO APPROX PZD AND CONTINUE TO EUF. ANOTHER ACFT BELOW ME CONFIRMED THAT PZD NAV VOR WAS OUT. DUE TO A LARGE RAIN SHOWER THAT I EXITED AT APPROX PZD I INFORMED CENTER I WOULD PROCEED A FEW MI N OF PZD FOR WX. I WAS CLR OF CLOUD. WHEN I ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURB AND LOSS OF ACFT CTL. I REDUCED PWR TO IDLE AND LOST 500' FROM 8000 TO 7500' BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT CENTER AND GET ALT CHANGE CLRNC. AFTER DSNT TO 7000' AND IN A FEW MINS(?), I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE EUF VOR AND I COMPLETED MY FLT W/O PROB. NAV PROB WAS WITH PZD PECAN VOR. RECOMMEND: FLT IFR CLRNC NOT BE GIVEN INTO A NON RADAR AREA W/O FULL FUNCTIONING ON THE GND VOR'S/NDB'S TO DEFINE ARWYS, MY ALT LOSS WAS A REAL PROB DUE TO LACK OF 'ALT'? POSSITIONS(?) INTO THE CTLRS TO KEEP ME CLR OF OTHER TFC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.