A B757 pilot declared an emergency in severe turbulence and descended to a smoother altitude while o...

Attributes
ACN	779028
Time
Date	200803
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz.artcc
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 36000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	779028
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	778795
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : turbulence other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

Event description: FL360; flight plan turbulence index 0 (entire route except 2) at zzzzz northbound turbulence started about 10 mins south of ZZZZZ1. About 5 mins south of ZZZZZ1 the turbulence became moderate and the flight attendants were seated. Also; at this time a radio call was made to commercial radio requesting an immediate descent as the turbulence was getting progressively worse. After about 5 mins with no response from commercial radio and the turbulence becoming severe; I declared an emergency. We broadcast our intention/situation on frequency 121.5 and descended to FL320 and a much better ride. Just prior to descending: seatbelt sign on; winds at FL360 190 KTS from the north; sky clear; mach .75 - .82; airspeed 250-300 KTS; vertical speed 1500 FPM up; 1500 FPM down; altitude: FL360 +/-200 ft. Autoplt was disconnected for the descent. South of ZZZZZ2; we contacted center on frequency 133.50 and continued to ZZZ without incident. Also; I called the dispatcher and told him of the event. There were no reported injuries to the passenger or crew. There was no apparent damage to the aircraft; except for some broken glass in the galleys.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 PILOT DECLARED AN EMER IN SEVERE TURBULENCE AND DSNDED TO A SMOOTHER ALT WHILE ON AN OCEAN AIRWAY.

Narrative: EVENT DESCRIPTION: FL360; FLT PLAN TURB INDEX 0 (ENTIRE RTE EXCEPT 2) AT ZZZZZ NBOUND TURB STARTED ABOUT 10 MINS S OF ZZZZZ1. ABOUT 5 MINS S OF ZZZZZ1 THE TURB BECAME MODERATE AND THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE SEATED. ALSO; AT THIS TIME A RADIO CALL WAS MADE TO COMMERCIAL RADIO REQUESTING AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT AS THE TURB WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINS WITH NO RESPONSE FROM COMMERCIAL RADIO AND THE TURB BECOMING SEVERE; I DECLARED AN EMER. WE BROADCAST OUR INTENTION/SIT ON FREQ 121.5 AND DSNDED TO FL320 AND A MUCH BETTER RIDE. JUST PRIOR TO DSNDING: SEATBELT SIGN ON; WINDS AT FL360 190 KTS FROM THE N; SKY CLR; MACH .75 - .82; AIRSPD 250-300 KTS; VERT SPD 1500 FPM UP; 1500 FPM DOWN; ALT: FL360 +/-200 FT. AUTOPLT WAS DISCONNECTED FOR THE DSCNT. S OF ZZZZZ2; WE CONTACTED CTR ON FREQ 133.50 AND CONTINUED TO ZZZ WITHOUT INCIDENT. ALSO; I CALLED THE DISPATCHER AND TOLD HIM OF THE EVENT. THERE WERE NO RPTED INJURIES TO THE PAX OR CREW. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE ACFT; EXCEPT FOR SOME BROKEN GLASS IN THE GALLEYS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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 B757 pilot declared an emergency in severe turbulence and descended to a smoother altitude while on an ocean airway.