Narrative:

At FL340; radar indicated a line of thunderstorms 160 NM ahead running about 120 mi north and south. I requested; and was cleared for a 10-15 degree left deviation for storm avoidance. There was a 20 NM break between the main line of returns and the southernmost cell; and I decided to fly through that gap. About 20-30 mins prior to the encounter; I illuminated the seatbelt signs and advised the passenger of potential turbulence. The flight attendants were advised via intercom to prepare the cabin for potential moderate turbulence; and to be seated. Approximately 2/3 through the break we encountered approximately 10 seconds of severe turbulence with a right 30-40 degree descending roll (1000-1500 FPM). During this time the autoplt reverted to control wheel steering and the first officer (PF) manually resumed control while I requested and received clearance to FL320. A few seconds later we were clear of clouds in smooth air. Following the event; I communicated with ATC; flight attendants; and dispatch. Flight attendants advised 1 passenger; not wearing seatbelt; was injured with bruised head and neck area. Injured passenger attended to by passenger rn and emt. Coordination with medlink. Supplemental information from acn 693776: I rolled wings level and allowed aircraft to descend so as not to increase wing loading. Captain requested and received FL320. We exited turbulence into smooth air.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 FLT CREW ENCOUNTERS MOMENTARY SEVERE TURB WHILE TRANSITING AREA OF TSTMS; PAX INJURED.

Narrative: AT FL340; RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF TSTMS 160 NM AHEAD RUNNING ABOUT 120 MI N AND S. I REQUESTED; AND WAS CLRED FOR A 10-15 DEG L DEV FOR STORM AVOIDANCE. THERE WAS A 20 NM BREAK BTWN THE MAIN LINE OF RETURNS AND THE SOUTHERNMOST CELL; AND I DECIDED TO FLY THROUGH THAT GAP. ABOUT 20-30 MINS PRIOR TO THE ENCOUNTER; I ILLUMINATED THE SEATBELT SIGNS AND ADVISED THE PAX OF POTENTIAL TURB. THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE ADVISED VIA INTERCOM TO PREPARE THE CABIN FOR POTENTIAL MODERATE TURB; AND TO BE SEATED. APPROX 2/3 THROUGH THE BREAK WE ENCOUNTERED APPROX 10 SECONDS OF SEVERE TURB WITH A R 30-40 DEG DSNDING ROLL (1000-1500 FPM). DURING THIS TIME THE AUTOPLT REVERTED TO CTL WHEEL STEERING AND THE FO (PF) MANUALLY RESUMED CTL WHILE I REQUESTED AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO FL320. A FEW SECONDS LATER WE WERE CLR OF CLOUDS IN SMOOTH AIR. FOLLOWING THE EVENT; I COMMUNICATED WITH ATC; FLT ATTENDANTS; AND DISPATCH. FLT ATTENDANTS ADVISED 1 PAX; NOT WEARING SEATBELT; WAS INJURED WITH BRUISED HEAD AND NECK AREA. INJURED PAX ATTENDED TO BY PAX RN AND EMT. COORD WITH MEDLINK. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 693776: I ROLLED WINGS LEVEL AND ALLOWED ACFT TO DSND SO AS NOT TO INCREASE WING LOADING. CAPT REQUESTED AND RECEIVED FL320. WE EXITED TURB INTO SMOOTH AIR.

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.