Aircraft experienced turbulence on descent.

Attributes
ACN	430150
Time
Date	199903
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sea.vortac
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 429 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse.artcc tracon : s46.tracon tower : sea.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	430150
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : turbulence
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : unable none taken : detected after the fact none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

On ord to sea flight approximately 50 mi east of sea VOR, I was the PF and descending through FL180. We started experiencing intermittent to continuous chop and turbulence. PA was made to advise passenger of flight conditions due to strong surface wind and intense low. Advised flight attendant to pick up cabin and prepare for landing. Approaching 14000 ft chop and turbulence increased. Asked first officer to call back and make sure that everyone was seated and flight attendant seated also. After level at 10000 ft, turbulence continued to increase with momentary jolts causing autoplt to disconnect and altitude loss. ATC issued right turn and descent to 5000 ft. ATC also issued deviations to other aircraft to avoid this area. Changed heading and began descent to 5000 ft. Moderate turbulence subsided around 8000 ft and continued chop to 6000 ft. At 6000 ft more moderate chop that continued until landing. Experienced 10-15 KT loss of airspeed on approach to runway 16R with strong gusty winds and windshear reported. After parked at gate, I advised maintenance of turbulence encounter and asked them to check aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT EXPERIENCED TURB ON DSCNT.

Narrative: ON ORD TO SEA FLT APPROX 50 MI E OF SEA VOR, I WAS THE PF AND DSNDING THROUGH FL180. WE STARTED EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT TO CONTINUOUS CHOP AND TURB. PA WAS MADE TO ADVISE PAX OF FLT CONDITIONS DUE TO STRONG SURFACE WIND AND INTENSE LOW. ADVISED FLT ATTENDANT TO PICK UP CABIN AND PREPARE FOR LNDG. APCHING 14000 FT CHOP AND TURB INCREASED. ASKED FO TO CALL BACK AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS SEATED AND FLT ATTENDANT SEATED ALSO. AFTER LEVEL AT 10000 FT, TURB CONTINUED TO INCREASE WITH MOMENTARY JOLTS CAUSING AUTOPLT TO DISCONNECT AND ALT LOSS. ATC ISSUED R TURN AND DSCNT TO 5000 FT. ATC ALSO ISSUED DEVS TO OTHER ACFT TO AVOID THIS AREA. CHANGED HDG AND BEGAN DSCNT TO 5000 FT. MODERATE TURB SUBSIDED AROUND 8000 FT AND CONTINUED CHOP TO 6000 FT. AT 6000 FT MORE MODERATE CHOP THAT CONTINUED UNTIL LNDG. EXPERIENCED 10-15 KT LOSS OF AIRSPD ON APCH TO RWY 16R WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND WINDSHEAR RPTED. AFTER PARKED AT GATE, I ADVISED MAINT OF TURB ENCOUNTER AND ASKED THEM TO CHK ACFT.

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.