In-flight encounter with hail results in damage to air carrier medium large transport.

Attributes
ACN	150219
Time
Date	199007
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude other
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	150219
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

While on climb out on a departure SID from ewr runway 4R and on vectors by departure control the radar indicated storm cell immediately ahead when given a 280 degree heading to on course. I advised we needed a 180 degree heading to deviate around cell. Departure control agreed but while in our turn we encountered severe hail and turbulence. This lasted for 30-45 seconds before we were clear. Hail cracked the captain's and center windshield. Destroyed the nose cone and damaged the radar antenna. Damage also to all leading edges. Captain's airspeed was inoperative and first officer's airspeed was usable but erratic. We requested clearance to phl due to our emergency condition and away from any WX. It also gave us time to assess damage and prepare for a normal landing. Emergency equipment in phl was requested to standby. Landing was normal, engines performed normally and flight controls were normal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INFLT ENCOUNTER WITH HAIL RESULTS IN DAMAGE TO ACR MLG.

Narrative: WHILE ON CLB OUT ON A DEP SID FROM EWR RWY 4R AND ON VECTORS BY DEP CTL THE RADAR INDICATED STORM CELL IMMEDIATELY AHEAD WHEN GIVEN A 280 DEG HDG TO ON COURSE. I ADVISED WE NEEDED A 180 DEG HDG TO DEVIATE AROUND CELL. DEP CTL AGREED BUT WHILE IN OUR TURN WE ENCOUNTERED SEVERE HAIL AND TURB. THIS LASTED FOR 30-45 SECS BEFORE WE WERE CLR. HAIL CRACKED THE CAPT'S AND CTR WINDSHIELD. DESTROYED THE NOSE CONE AND DAMAGED THE RADAR ANTENNA. DAMAGE ALSO TO ALL LEADING EDGES. CAPT'S AIRSPD WAS INOP AND F/O'S AIRSPD WAS USABLE BUT ERRATIC. WE REQUESTED CLRNC TO PHL DUE TO OUR EMER CONDITION AND AWAY FROM ANY WX. IT ALSO GAVE US TIME TO ASSESS DAMAGE AND PREPARE FOR A NORMAL LNDG. EMER EQUIP IN PHL WAS REQUESTED TO STANDBY. LNDG WAS NORMAL, ENGS PERFORMED NORMALLY AND FLT CTLS WERE NORMAL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.