B737-700 flight crew reported encountering wake turbulence departing dca in trail of an A321.

Attributes
ACN	1556676
Time
Date	201806
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	DCA.Airport
State Reference	DC
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	A321
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 346 Flight Crew Type 23000
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Speed All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter

Narrative:

When cleared to line up and wait on runway 01; we were asked if we had the preceding aircraft in sight. We reported that we did; an A-321. Shortly after the A-321 lifted off; we were cleared for takeoff. Shortly after lifting off and the landing gear was retracted; I began to encounter mild wake turbulence. This is a very precise RNAV departure due to restricted airspace. While trying to maintain course and avoid restricted airspace; I kept encountering wake turbulence; in this situation; not completely unusual. At approximately 600-800 feet; I encountered severe wake turbulence with a rapid right rolling moment. The encounter was so strong as to require full left aileron and some rudder to arrest the rolling moment. I'm quite certain that we exceeded 30 degrees of right bank. During the recover; I encountered the stick shaker briefly (maybe one second duration) at flaps 1 degree and 197 KIAS.the pilot monitoring was very helpful; adding full thrust as I was both hands on the yoke trying to stop the rolling moment. He also made outstanding and appropriate call outs during the event. In recent history; two of the worst wake turbulence encounters have been behind an A-321. I understand the problem with the traffic flow into and out of dca; there needs to be something researched about appropriate minimum spacing behind certain aircraft. This type of event has serious possible implications. The FAA needs to do a little research about minimum spacing behind an A-321. The research has already been done on other aircraft that we frequently encounter there (B-757).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-700 flight crew reported encountering wake turbulence departing DCA in trail of an A321.

Narrative: When cleared to line up and wait on Runway 01; we were asked if we had the preceding aircraft in sight. We reported that we did; an A-321. Shortly after the A-321 lifted off; we were cleared for takeoff. Shortly after lifting off and the landing gear was retracted; I began to encounter mild wake turbulence. This is a very precise RNAV Departure due to restricted airspace. While trying to maintain course and avoid restricted airspace; I kept encountering wake turbulence; in this situation; not completely unusual. At approximately 600-800 feet; I encountered severe wake turbulence with a rapid right rolling moment. The encounter was so strong as to require full left aileron and some rudder to arrest the rolling moment. I'm quite certain that we exceeded 30 degrees of right bank. During the recover; I encountered the stick shaker briefly (maybe one second duration) at flaps 1 degree and 197 KIAS.The Pilot Monitoring was very helpful; adding full thrust as I was both hands on the yoke trying to stop the rolling moment. He also made outstanding and appropriate call outs during the event. In recent history; two of the worst wake turbulence encounters have been behind an A-321. I understand the problem with the traffic flow into and out of DCA; there needs to be something researched about appropriate minimum spacing behind certain aircraft. This type of event has serious possible implications. The FAA needs to do a little research about minimum spacing behind an A-321. The research has already been done on other aircraft that we frequently encounter there (B-757).

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.