Narrative:

While descending into bdl ATC asked us to expedite our descent through 14000 ft and to maintain 11000 ft. This forced us to descend through a layer of cumulus clouds, with a lenticular cloud overhead. While I didn't want to descend into this type of cloud formation, the captain insisted and continued the 'expedited' rate through these 'non-return' clouds. In the clouds we experienced moderate to severe turbulence for 1-2 seconds. This turbulence while very high, was significant enough to injure three of our four flight attendants. None of the 144 passenger were injured as the seat belt sign was on, and they were strapped in. However, despite several PA's about the expected low level turbulence, and a warning from the captain to 'situation down early' the flight attendants were still standing when we penetrated the cloud layer. In the future, I think, captain should use a bit more CRM, and defer to the first officer's conceivable judgement, all pilots should be educated on the dangers of lenticular cloud formation, and respect them, that flight attendants respect the warnings they receive from the cockpit about possible turbulence.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THREE OF FOUR FLT ATTENDANTS WERE INJURED WHEN THE MLG ACFT WENT INTO BRIEF SEVERE TURB DURING DSCNT.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING INTO BDL ATC ASKED US TO EXPEDITE OUR DSCNT THROUGH 14000 FT AND TO MAINTAIN 11000 FT. THIS FORCED US TO DSND THROUGH A LAYER OF CUMULUS CLOUDS, WITH A LENTICULAR CLOUD OVERHEAD. WHILE I DIDN'T WANT TO DSND INTO THIS TYPE OF CLOUD FORMATION, THE CAPT INSISTED AND CONTINUED THE 'EXPEDITED' RATE THROUGH THESE 'NON-RETURN' CLOUDS. IN THE CLOUDS WE EXPERIENCED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB FOR 1-2 SECONDS. THIS TURB WHILE VERY HIGH, WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO INJURE THREE OF OUR FOUR FLT ATTENDANTS. NONE OF THE 144 PAX WERE INJURED AS THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS ON, AND THEY WERE STRAPPED IN. HOWEVER, DESPITE SEVERAL PA'S ABOUT THE EXPECTED LOW LEVEL TURB, AND A WARNING FROM THE CAPT TO 'SIT DOWN EARLY' THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE STILL STANDING WHEN WE PENETRATED THE CLOUD LAYER. IN THE FUTURE, I THINK, CAPT SHOULD USE A BIT MORE CRM, AND DEFER TO THE FO'S CONCEIVABLE JUDGEMENT, ALL PLTS SHOULD BE EDUCATED ON THE DANGERS OF LENTICULAR CLOUD FORMATION, AND RESPECT THEM, THAT FLT ATTENDANTS RESPECT THE WARNINGS THEY RECEIVE FROM THE COCKPIT ABOUT POSSIBLE TURB.

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.