Air carrier encounters clear air turbulence and diverts to en route airport account passenger and cr...

Attributes
ACN	442722
Time
Date	199907
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : txkf.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : a523.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 14300 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	442722
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude cabin event other inflight encounter : turbulence other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Weather
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

Approximately 15 mi north of pruit intersection on A523 at FL290 in clear air we encountered 2 severe jolts (turbulence). Our aircraft lost approximately 400 ft and was descending at 2000 FPM. Speed was approaching mmo. I made a slow recovery back to FL290, bottoming out our descent at FL284. The seat belt sign was off and during the recovery I placed it back on. When the aircraft was level, I attempted to reach the flight attendants via the interphone, no response. I instructed my first officer to go into the cabin and assess damages. He quickly informed me of numerous injuries. At that time, I declared an emergency and diverted to bermuda, turning direct to bda, our location was 160 mi ssw. I made a PA announcement informing passenger we were diverting and would land in bda in 30 mins. We relayed to ATC about our injured passenger and flight attendants. We made a normal approach and landing to runway 30 bda. Medical teams were standing by and assisted injured passenger. No reports of turbulence were reported by ATC along our route or in our dispatched flight paperwork.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ENCOUNTERS CLR AIR TURB AND DIVERTS TO ENRTE ARPT ACCOUNT PAX AND CREW INJURY.

Narrative: APPROX 15 MI N OF PRUIT INTXN ON A523 AT FL290 IN CLR AIR WE ENCOUNTERED 2 SEVERE JOLTS (TURB). OUR ACFT LOST APPROX 400 FT AND WAS DSNDING AT 2000 FPM. SPD WAS APCHING MMO. I MADE A SLOW RECOVERY BACK TO FL290, BOTTOMING OUT OUR DSCNT AT FL284. THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS OFF AND DURING THE RECOVERY I PLACED IT BACK ON. WHEN THE ACFT WAS LEVEL, I ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE FLT ATTENDANTS VIA THE INTERPHONE, NO RESPONSE. I INSTRUCTED MY FO TO GO INTO THE CABIN AND ASSESS DAMAGES. HE QUICKLY INFORMED ME OF NUMEROUS INJURIES. AT THAT TIME, I DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED TO BERMUDA, TURNING DIRECT TO BDA, OUR LOCATION WAS 160 MI SSW. I MADE A PA ANNOUNCEMENT INFORMING PAX WE WERE DIVERTING AND WOULD LAND IN BDA IN 30 MINS. WE RELAYED TO ATC ABOUT OUR INJURED PAX AND FLT ATTENDANTS. WE MADE A NORMAL APCH AND LNDG TO RWY 30 BDA. MEDICAL TEAMS WERE STANDING BY AND ASSISTED INJURED PAX. NO RPTS OF TURB WERE RPTED BY ATC ALONG OUR RTE OR IN OUR DISPATCHED FLT PAPERWORK.

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.

Air carrier encounters clear air turbulence and diverts to en route airport account passenger and crew injury.