B727-100 crew encountered severe clear air turbulence in ZDC class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	565999
Time
Date	200211
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zdc.artcc
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	565999
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : turbulence inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overrode automation flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

On flight from fll to abe, we were in cruise flight at around FL250. Suddenly, we encountered clear air turbulence. In 14 yrs of flying, I have never experienced such violent turbulence. I clicked off the autoplt, slowed the airplane down while the captain told ATC that we were experiencing severe turbulence and needed to descend. 2 other airliners also reported severe turbulence and were asking for lower. At times, I could not control the aircraft or even read the instruments because the jarring was so rapid in all directions. Luckily, we were a crew only ferry flight and everyone in the back also had on their seatbelts, fastened. I finally got the airplane descended below 17000 ft and it finally smoothed out. We were literally exhausted and were not sure which direction we were supposed to be going. ATC told us to turn to a heading now or we would penetrate restr airspace. In the descent, I didn't hear any TCASII warnings and I don't think we conflicted with any other aircraft or penetrated any restr airspace. We continued on to abe without further incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727-100 CREW ENCOUNTERED SEVERE CLR AIR TURB IN ZDC CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ON FLT FROM FLL TO ABE, WE WERE IN CRUISE FLT AT AROUND FL250. SUDDENLY, WE ENCOUNTERED CLR AIR TURB. IN 14 YRS OF FLYING, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH VIOLENT TURB. I CLICKED OFF THE AUTOPLT, SLOWED THE AIRPLANE DOWN WHILE THE CAPT TOLD ATC THAT WE WERE EXPERIENCING SEVERE TURB AND NEEDED TO DSND. 2 OTHER AIRLINERS ALSO RPTED SEVERE TURB AND WERE ASKING FOR LOWER. AT TIMES, I COULD NOT CTL THE ACFT OR EVEN READ THE INSTS BECAUSE THE JARRING WAS SO RAPID IN ALL DIRECTIONS. LUCKILY, WE WERE A CREW ONLY FERRY FLT AND EVERYONE IN THE BACK ALSO HAD ON THEIR SEATBELTS, FASTENED. I FINALLY GOT THE AIRPLANE DSNDED BELOW 17000 FT AND IT FINALLY SMOOTHED OUT. WE WERE LITERALLY EXHAUSTED AND WERE NOT SURE WHICH DIRECTION WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GOING. ATC TOLD US TO TURN TO A HDG NOW OR WE WOULD PENETRATE RESTR AIRSPACE. IN THE DSCNT, I DIDN'T HEAR ANY TCASII WARNINGS AND I DON'T THINK WE CONFLICTED WITH ANY OTHER ACFT OR PENETRATED ANY RESTR AIRSPACE. WE CONTINUED ON TO ABE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

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.