Narrative:

Because of forecast turbulence en route, I briefed cabin and passenger to expect turbulence the entire route. We encountered turbulence starting about 100 mi east of las (route was las to bos). West of lamar VOR (laa) we encountered moderate turbulence at FL330. ZDV reported a better ride at FL370, which we requested. We were in contact with ZDV, frequency 134.12. Climbing through FL367, we suddenly encountered severe turbulence. The seatbelt sign had been on since the beginning of the flight. We immediately requested descent back down to FL330. The aircraft was shaking violently, but not out of control. After several attempts to contact ZDV on 134.12 and the previously assigned frequency without success, I directed the copilot to squawk 7700 while I initiated descent back down to FL330 while continuing to re-establish contact with ZDV. I then directed the copilot to squawk 7600. When the ride improved, we were able to contact ZDV on frequency 127.65. This frequency was congested with xmissions of confusion. Apparently just as we entered the severe turbulence, ZDV experienced a power failure. Hence the communication failure. After further discussion with the controller, he told us that 'you did the right thing and no further action is necessary.' though I squawked 7700, I did not declare an emergency after contact was re-established. We reported, via radio, the turbulence to our operations and maintenance control as per operations specifications. We suffered 2 very minor injuries to passenger and though we coordinated with company medical and an 'onboard' physician, medical treatment was not required and further assistance declined by the 2 affected passenger.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 PIC USES HIS EMER AUTH TO DSND BACK TO HIS PREVIOUSLY AUTH ALT WHEN ENCOUNTERING SEVERE TURB IN A CLB THROUGH FL367 20 MI W OF LAA, CO.

Narrative: BECAUSE OF FORECAST TURB ENRTE, I BRIEFED CABIN AND PAX TO EXPECT TURB THE ENTIRE RTE. WE ENCOUNTERED TURB STARTING ABOUT 100 MI E OF LAS (RTE WAS LAS TO BOS). W OF LAMAR VOR (LAA) WE ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TURB AT FL330. ZDV RPTED A BETTER RIDE AT FL370, WHICH WE REQUESTED. WE WERE IN CONTACT WITH ZDV, FREQ 134.12. CLBING THROUGH FL367, WE SUDDENLY ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURB. THE SEATBELT SIGN HAD BEEN ON SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE FLT. WE IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED DSCNT BACK DOWN TO FL330. THE ACFT WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY, BUT NOT OUT OF CTL. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT ZDV ON 134.12 AND THE PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED FREQ WITHOUT SUCCESS, I DIRECTED THE COPLT TO SQUAWK 7700 WHILE I INITIATED DSCNT BACK DOWN TO FL330 WHILE CONTINUING TO RE-ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH ZDV. I THEN DIRECTED THE COPLT TO SQUAWK 7600. WHEN THE RIDE IMPROVED, WE WERE ABLE TO CONTACT ZDV ON FREQ 127.65. THIS FREQ WAS CONGESTED WITH XMISSIONS OF CONFUSION. APPARENTLY JUST AS WE ENTERED THE SEVERE TURB, ZDV EXPERIENCED A PWR FAILURE. HENCE THE COM FAILURE. AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE CTLR, HE TOLD US THAT 'YOU DID THE RIGHT THING AND NO FURTHER ACTION IS NECESSARY.' THOUGH I SQUAWKED 7700, I DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER AFTER CONTACT WAS RE-ESTABLISHED. WE RPTED, VIA RADIO, THE TURB TO OUR OPS AND MAINT CTL AS PER OPS SPECS. WE SUFFERED 2 VERY MINOR INJURIES TO PAX AND THOUGH WE COORDINATED WITH COMPANY MEDICAL AND AN 'ONBOARD' PHYSICIAN, MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS NOT REQUIRED AND FURTHER ASSISTANCE DECLINED BY THE 2 AFFECTED PAX.

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.