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PA-24 pilot reported loss of control for several seconds in severe turbulence that resulted in track and altitude excursions before control was regained.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1460359 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201706 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | CLE.TRACON |
| State Reference | OH |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PA-24 Comanche |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3 Flight Crew Total 1344 Flight Crew Type 1017 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
I was receiving VFR vectors from cleveland approach in the cle class B airspace to transition from the south side of the class B to bkl (burke lakefront airport) in the northern portion of the class B. Weather was VFR with continuous moderate to occasionally severe chop. Traffic was not a factor. No traffic was called to me and only one target (at 10 miles) showed on the adsb while in the class B. I was cleared at 3;500' with heading changes as necessary. The aircraft was on autopilot. At approximately ixore intersection; I hit some extreme turbulence. The aircraft rolled more that 90 degrees right; altitude increased violently; then decreased violently leaving a net gain of 600' and a heading deviation of 40 degrees right. This all happened simultaneously. The autopilot disconnected; whether from exceeding its limitations or my hand hitting the disconnect switch; I don't know. My first reaction was to roll level and then start a turn back to the proper heading and a descent down to the correct altitude. The controller asked if I needed any assistance. I declined as I was very busy. Back on heading and altitude; I explained to the controller what had happened.so far as I know; there was no loss of separation. However; for a few seconds I had absolutely no control over the aircraft. The experience was what I have always thought a wake turbulence encounter would be like; although I doubt that this was the case here because of the lack of other traffic.the one change I will make in my procedures because of this is to keep my seat belt even tighter.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA-24 pilot reported loss of control for several seconds in severe turbulence that resulted in track and altitude excursions before control was regained.
Narrative: I was receiving VFR vectors from Cleveland Approach in the CLE Class B airspace to transition from the south side of the Class B to BKL (Burke Lakefront Airport) in the northern portion of the Class B. Weather was VFR with continuous moderate to occasionally severe chop. Traffic was not a factor. No traffic was called to me and only one target (at 10 miles) showed on the ADSB while in the Class B. I was cleared at 3;500' with heading changes as necessary. The aircraft was on autopilot. At approximately IXORE intersection; I hit some extreme turbulence. The aircraft rolled more that 90 degrees right; altitude increased violently; then decreased violently leaving a net gain of 600' and a heading deviation of 40 degrees right. This all happened simultaneously. The autopilot disconnected; whether from exceeding its limitations or my hand hitting the disconnect switch; I don't know. My first reaction was to roll level and then start a turn back to the proper heading and a descent down to the correct altitude. The Controller asked if I needed any assistance. I declined as I was very busy. Back on heading and altitude; I explained to the Controller what had happened.So far as I know; there was no loss of separation. However; for a few seconds I had absolutely no control over the aircraft. The experience was what I have always thought a wake turbulence encounter would be like; although I doubt that this was the case here because of the lack of other traffic.The one change I will make in my procedures because of this is to keep my seat belt even tighter.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.