Narrative:

Descending into bdl with ZBW, we received a clearance to expedite our descent through 14000 ft. With no radar echoes, we entered a layer of cumulus clouds. We experienced moderate turbulence entering the clouds and 1 severe jolt lasting about 3 or 4 seconds. We had 144 passenger on board and 4 flight attendants. I had made 3 reinforcing announcements for everyone to remain seated with their seatbelts securely fastened. Everyone was in their seats so no passenger were injured. The flight attendants were preparing the cabin early because they were told of the possibility of a choppy ride on descent. 3 of the 4 flight attendants were injured when we hit the severe jolt. The paramedics were called through the company frequency and met the aircraft on arrival. The flight attendants were xported to local hospitals and were released within 8 hours of this incident. All injuries were of a minor nature (dislocated shoulder, bruised tailbone, broken scapula). My flight attendants were shaken badly by this incident and were replaced. The first officer and I continued the trip and completed it uneventfully. We descend into cumulus clouds all the time and expect a choppy ride, but nothing like this. As long as airliners fly through frontal activity and cumulus clouds this potential hazard will always exist.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 3 OF THE 4 FLT ATTENDANTS ON BOARD A B737-400 WERE INJURED DURING DSCNT WHEN THE ACFT ENTERED CUMULUS CLOUDS ASSOCIATED WITH FRONTAL ACTIVITY. PARAMEDICS ESCORTED THE INJURED FLT ATTENDANTS TO LCL HOSPITALS AFTER LNDG.

Narrative: DSNDING INTO BDL WITH ZBW, WE RECEIVED A CLRNC TO EXPEDITE OUR DSCNT THROUGH 14000 FT. WITH NO RADAR ECHOES, WE ENTERED A LAYER OF CUMULUS CLOUDS. WE EXPERIENCED MODERATE TURB ENTERING THE CLOUDS AND 1 SEVERE JOLT LASTING ABOUT 3 OR 4 SECONDS. WE HAD 144 PAX ON BOARD AND 4 FLT ATTENDANTS. I HAD MADE 3 REINFORCING ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR EVERYONE TO REMAIN SEATED WITH THEIR SEATBELTS SECURELY FASTENED. EVERYONE WAS IN THEIR SEATS SO NO PAX WERE INJURED. THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE PREPARING THE CABIN EARLY BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD OF THE POSSIBILITY OF A CHOPPY RIDE ON DSCNT. 3 OF THE 4 FLT ATTENDANTS WERE INJURED WHEN WE HIT THE SEVERE JOLT. THE PARAMEDICS WERE CALLED THROUGH THE COMPANY FREQ AND MET THE ACFT ON ARR. THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE XPORTED TO LCL HOSPITALS AND WERE RELEASED WITHIN 8 HRS OF THIS INCIDENT. ALL INJURIES WERE OF A MINOR NATURE (DISLOCATED SHOULDER, BRUISED TAILBONE, BROKEN SCAPULA). MY FLT ATTENDANTS WERE SHAKEN BADLY BY THIS INCIDENT AND WERE REPLACED. THE FO AND I CONTINUED THE TRIP AND COMPLETED IT UNEVENTFULLY. WE DSND INTO CUMULUS CLOUDS ALL THE TIME AND EXPECT A CHOPPY RIDE, BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS. AS LONG AS AIRLINERS FLY THROUGH FRONTAL ACTIVITY AND CUMULUS CLOUDS THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD WILL ALWAYS EXIST.

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.