Student and instructor pilot on IFR flight plan aboard small aircraft lose radio contact and encounter clouds and turbulence resulting in altdevs beyond the control of the pilots.

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Attributes
ACN	692933
Time
Date	200603
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tjmz.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : tjsj.artcc
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 1783 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	692933
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : turbulence inflight encounter : weather other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

We were at 7000 ft (assigned) when we were switched over from santo domingo (mdst) to san juan (tjsj). We couldn't pick up san juan. When we tried to return to santo domingo; we lost radio communication with both (santo domingo and san juan). We were going into heavy clouds without radio communication; so we climbed to 9000 ft to stay VFR until we regained radio communication. When we were able to gain radio communication with tjsj we were instructed to return to our assigned altitude of 7000 ft. At 7000 ft; we were in violent turbulence; IMC; and were totally unable to maintain altitude. We struggled to maintain the assigned 7000 ft but were for some time between 300-400 ft below 7000 ft; often above 7000 ft by 100 ft or 200 ft. Finally; we were able to be assigned officially 9000 ft until we cleared the clouds. What I would have done was to turn back until I could again pick up santo domingo; since that would 1) put us still in VMC; 2) we could have requested a higher altitude; which they could pass on to san juan.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR PLT ON IFR FLT PLAN ABOARD SMA LOSE RADIO CONTACT AND ENCOUNTER CLOUDS AND TURB RESULTING IN ALTDEVS BEYOND THE CTL OF THE PLTS.

Narrative: WE WERE AT 7000 FT (ASSIGNED) WHEN WE WERE SWITCHED OVER FROM SANTO DOMINGO (MDST) TO SAN JUAN (TJSJ). WE COULDN'T PICK UP SAN JUAN. WHEN WE TRIED TO RETURN TO SANTO DOMINGO; WE LOST RADIO COM WITH BOTH (SANTO DOMINGO AND SAN JUAN). WE WERE GOING INTO HVY CLOUDS WITHOUT RADIO COM; SO WE CLBED TO 9000 FT TO STAY VFR UNTIL WE REGAINED RADIO COM. WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO GAIN RADIO COM WITH TJSJ WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 7000 FT. AT 7000 FT; WE WERE IN VIOLENT TURB; IMC; AND WERE TOTALLY UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT. WE STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN THE ASSIGNED 7000 FT BUT WERE FOR SOME TIME BTWN 300-400 FT BELOW 7000 FT; OFTEN ABOVE 7000 FT BY 100 FT OR 200 FT. FINALLY; WE WERE ABLE TO BE ASSIGNED OFFICIALLY 9000 FT UNTIL WE CLRED THE CLOUDS. WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE WAS TO TURN BACK UNTIL I COULD AGAIN PICK UP SANTO DOMINGO; SINCE THAT WOULD 1) PUT US STILL IN VMC; 2) WE COULD HAVE REQUESTED A HIGHER ALT; WHICH THEY COULD PASS ON TO SAN JUAN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.