In-flight WX damage to aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	281407
Time
Date	199408
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : esl
State Reference	WV
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tower : yyz
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 22000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	281407
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While in descent to dca we noticed a small cell at 12 O'clock. About 30 mi ahead, deviation was requested from center but due to heavy workload it was 10-15 mi before permission granted. We started a left turn and immediately encountered heavy rain and moderate turbulence. We think only rain because it did not sound like hail. Upon landing the radome was stripped, the spinners on both engines were pitted and the bottom beacon cover was 50 percent gone. The heavy workload of the center and my reluctance to deviation sooner without permission were the primary causes of the incident. I knew we needed to deviate but I didn't think the precipitation was of the magnitude encountered.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INFLT WX DAMAGE TO ACFT.

Narrative: WHILE IN DSCNT TO DCA WE NOTICED A SMALL CELL AT 12 O'CLOCK. ABOUT 30 MI AHEAD, DEV WAS REQUESTED FROM CTR BUT DUE TO HVY WORKLOAD IT WAS 10-15 MI BEFORE PERMISSION GRANTED. WE STARTED A L TURN AND IMMEDIATELY ENCOUNTERED HVY RAIN AND MODERATE TURB. WE THINK ONLY RAIN BECAUSE IT DID NOT SOUND LIKE HAIL. UPON LNDG THE RADOME WAS STRIPPED, THE SPINNERS ON BOTH ENGS WERE PITTED AND THE BOTTOM BEACON COVER WAS 50 PERCENT GONE. THE HVY WORKLOAD OF THE CTR AND MY RELUCTANCE TO DEV SOONER WITHOUT PERMISSION WERE THE PRIMARY CAUSES OF THE INCIDENT. I KNEW WE NEEDED TO DEVIATE BUT I DIDN'T THINK THE PRECIPITATION WAS OF THE MAGNITUDE ENCOUNTERED.

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.