CRJ700 flight crew experiences a down draft at FL360 from a nearby thunderstorm and is unable to mai...

Attributes
ACN	893159
Time
Date	201006
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Speed All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

In cruise at FL360; deviating around a thunderstorm; we were cruising at 240 kts (mach .72). We suddenly lost airspeed and increased power to toga power. No change in airspeed was observed with power increase. We then went to maximum power; and aircraft was still slowing. Autopilot was disengaged by captain and we were able to hold the airspeed just above the 'stall barber pole.' however; we were unable to maintain altitude. We notified ATC of our situation and [advised] them of the need to descend. ATC initially denied request to descend; stating there was opposite direction traffic 1;000 feet below us. I demanded lower altitude a second time; ATC still insisted we stay at 36;000 and we were able to arrest the decent at 35;400ft. At 35;400ft; we were able to regain some airspeed and return to 36;000ft while performing the wind sheer escape maneuver. We were never able to increase airspeed at 36;000ft and still needed lower altitude. At this time; ATC gave us a 30 degree turn and a descent to 35;000ft. Upon descent to 35;000ft; airspeed started to increase and the event was over. We had no indication of possible windshear when we experience the downdraft/windshear. The flight was smooth and continued without event.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ700 Flight Crew experiences a down draft at FL360 from a nearby thunderstorm and is unable to maintain altitude or airspeed at maximum power. ATC is unable to give clearance lower due to traffic (emergency not declared) and descent is eventually arrested at FL354.

Narrative: In cruise at FL360; deviating around a thunderstorm; we were cruising at 240 kts (mach .72). We suddenly lost airspeed and increased power to TOGA power. No change in airspeed was observed with power increase. We then went to MAX power; and aircraft was still slowing. Autopilot was disengaged by Captain and we were able to hold the airspeed just above the 'stall barber pole.' However; we were unable to maintain altitude. We notified ATC of our situation and [advised] them of the need to descend. ATC initially denied request to descend; stating there was opposite direction traffic 1;000 feet below us. I demanded lower altitude a second time; ATC still insisted we stay at 36;000 and we were able to arrest the decent at 35;400ft. At 35;400ft; we were able to regain some airspeed and return to 36;000ft while performing the wind sheer escape maneuver. We were never able to increase airspeed at 36;000ft and still needed lower altitude. At this time; ATC gave us a 30 degree turn and a descent to 35;000ft. Upon descent to 35;000ft; airspeed started to increase and the event was over. We had no indication of possible windshear when we experience the downdraft/windshear. The flight was smooth and continued without event.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

CRJ700 flight crew experiences a down draft at FL360 from a nearby thunderstorm and is unable to maintain altitude or airspeed at maximum power. ATC is unable to give clearance lower due to traffic (emergency not declared) and descent is eventually arrested at FL354.