Wake turbulence encounter.

Attributes
ACN	322501
Time
Date	199510
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl bound lower : 2000 agl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 tower : ewr
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A340
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 3900 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	322501
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On visual approach at 2000 ft, trailing an airbus 340, we were not advised to be cautious of wake turbulence by ATC. The A340 was 2-2 1/2 mi ahead of our aircraft. We were not even aware it was a heavy. About 2-3 mi on final our aircraft rolled violently left, then right, then left again. I noticed the yoke full deflection in opposite direction of roll. The flight had been completely smooth until that instant. The encounter lasted 4-5 seconds and almost overwhelmed our aircraft's aileron authority/authorized. Our speed was 140-160 KTS indicated at the time. A real eye opener! Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter was very knowledgeable and quite safety oriented regarding wake issues. He advised that when you fly the small commuter types you learn fast in order to survive. Reporter also brought forth the issue of equipment, or lack of, on commuter types. He also felt that ATC was overloaded much of the time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WAKE TURB ENCOUNTER.

Narrative: ON VISUAL APCH AT 2000 FT, TRAILING AN AIRBUS 340, WE WERE NOT ADVISED TO BE CAUTIOUS OF WAKE TURB BY ATC. THE A340 WAS 2-2 1/2 MI AHEAD OF OUR ACFT. WE WERE NOT EVEN AWARE IT WAS A HVY. ABOUT 2-3 MI ON FINAL OUR ACFT ROLLED VIOLENTLY L, THEN R, THEN L AGAIN. I NOTICED THE YOKE FULL DEFLECTION IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF ROLL. THE FLT HAD BEEN COMPLETELY SMOOTH UNTIL THAT INSTANT. THE ENCOUNTER LASTED 4-5 SECONDS AND ALMOST OVERWHELMED OUR ACFT'S AILERON AUTH. OUR SPD WAS 140-160 KTS INDICATED AT THE TIME. A REAL EYE OPENER! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND QUITE SAFETY ORIENTED REGARDING WAKE ISSUES. HE ADVISED THAT WHEN YOU FLY THE SMALL COMMUTER TYPES YOU LEARN FAST IN ORDER TO SURVIVE. RPTR ALSO BROUGHT FORTH THE ISSUE OF EQUIP, OR LACK OF, ON COMMUTER TYPES. HE ALSO FELT THAT ATC WAS OVERLOADED MUCH OF THE TIME.

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.