B727 crew declared an emergency during a clear air turbulence encounter.

Attributes
ACN	490246
Time
Date	200010
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : lin.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 7500
ASRS Report	490246
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : turbulence inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Facility
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

We were climbing up to the cruising altitude and going to the linden VOR. We were cleared to FL270. During the flight, I heard an air carrier pilot requesting a lower altitude due to turbulence. After going past linden VOR on J148 to mina VOR, I ran into severe turbulence at FL270. I tried to request a lower altitude, but the frequency was so busy I was unable to get permission to go the lower altitude right away. I was in the severe turbulence for 2-3 mins with still no contact from the ATC controller, that I decided to declare an emergency in order to get a lower altitude. In addition, 3 other airlines also had to declare an emergency to get to a lower altitude. After receiving the ok to fly at FL250 it was a smooth, stable ride. I talked to my lead attendant and inquired about the passenger. They were ok and no one was hurt.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW DECLARED AN EMER DURING A CLR AIR TURB ENCOUNTER.

Narrative: WE WERE CLBING UP TO THE CRUISING ALT AND GOING TO THE LINDEN VOR. WE WERE CLRED TO FL270. DURING THE FLT, I HEARD AN ACR PLT REQUESTING A LOWER ALT DUE TO TURB. AFTER GOING PAST LINDEN VOR ON J148 TO MINA VOR, I RAN INTO SEVERE TURB AT FL270. I TRIED TO REQUEST A LOWER ALT, BUT THE FREQ WAS SO BUSY I WAS UNABLE TO GET PERMISSION TO GO THE LOWER ALT RIGHT AWAY. I WAS IN THE SEVERE TURB FOR 2-3 MINS WITH STILL NO CONTACT FROM THE ATC CTLR, THAT I DECIDED TO DECLARE AN EMER IN ORDER TO GET A LOWER ALT. IN ADDITION, 3 OTHER AIRLINES ALSO HAD TO DECLARE AN EMER TO GET TO A LOWER ALT. AFTER RECEIVING THE OK TO FLY AT FL250 IT WAS A SMOOTH, STABLE RIDE. I TALKED TO MY LEAD ATTENDANT AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE PAX. THEY WERE OK AND NO ONE WAS HURT.

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.