A B737-300 crew encountered severe turbulence 10 NM from thunderstorm cells at FL340. A passenger is...

Attributes
ACN	696757
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : zzz.vortac
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 34000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence Thunderstorm
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	696757
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	696758
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude cabin event : passenger illness cabin event other inflight encounter : turbulence other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Cabin Crew Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Passenger Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

At approximately 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 the 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 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 that 1 passenger; not wearing seatbelt; was injured with bruised head and neck area. Injured passenger attended by passenger rn and emt.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 CREW ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURB 10 NM FROM TSTM CELLS AT FL340. A PAX IS INJURED DURING TURB ENCOUNTER; WHILE NOT WEARING SEATBELT. EMER DECLARED.

Narrative: AT APPROX 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 THE 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 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 THAT 1 PAX; NOT WEARING SEATBELT; WAS INJURED WITH BRUISED HEAD AND NECK AREA. INJURED PAX ATTENDED BY PAX RN AND EMT.

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.

A B737-300 crew encountered severe turbulence 10 NM from thunderstorm cells at FL340. A passenger is injured during turbulence encounter; while not wearing seatbelt. Emergency declared.