An air carrier MD11 flight crew hits severe turbulence and the aircraft exceeds the airspeed redline and is rolled up to 25 degrees of bank left and right. When denied permission to descend the flight crew declares an emergency and descends.

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Attributes
ACN	354624
Time
Date	199612
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	354624
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

At FL370 our MD11 experienced severe turbulence that placed aircraft in high speed buffet (exceeded redline) combined with uncommanded rolls 25 degrees left and right. After requesting a lower altitude, FL330, we were told to wait. Believing that aircraft control could be lost in a 'jet upset' event, we declared an emergency, squawked 7700 and began a gradual descent on our own to maintain control of the aircraft. In so doing, I exercised my emergency authority/authorized granted under the FARS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MD11 FLC HITS SEVERE TURB AND THE ACFT EXCEEDS THE AIRSPD REDLINE AND IS ROLLED UP TO 25 DEGS OF BANK L AND R. WHEN DENIED PERMISSION TO DSND THE FLC DECLARES AN EMER AND DSNDS.

Narrative: AT FL370 OUR MD11 EXPERIENCED SEVERE TURB THAT PLACED ACFT IN HIGH SPD BUFFET (EXCEEDED REDLINE) COMBINED WITH UNCOMMANDED ROLLS 25 DEGS L AND R. AFTER REQUESTING A LOWER ALT, FL330, WE WERE TOLD TO WAIT. BELIEVING THAT ACFT CTL COULD BE LOST IN A 'JET UPSET' EVENT, WE DECLARED AN EMER, SQUAWKED 7700 AND BEGAN A GRADUAL DSCNT ON OUR OWN TO MAINTAIN CTL OF THE ACFT. IN SO DOING, I EXERCISED MY EMER AUTH GRANTED UNDER THE FARS.

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.