DA20 crew encounters hail in embedded thunderstorm in ZTL airspace.

Attributes
ACN	426505
Time
Date	199901
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : shv.airport
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl single value : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence Thunderstorm
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Falcon 20FJF/20C/20D/20E/20F
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
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 : 120 flight time total : 5400 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	426505
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : turbulence inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Weather
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Radar that appeared to be functioning failed to reveal an imbedded cell in which we encountered hail that did substantial damage to the airplane. We were in IMC conditions and were depending on the radar for WX avoidance. If the radar had been functioning properly, we could have avoided the cell altogether.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DA20 CREW ENCOUNTERS HAIL IN EMBEDDED TSTM IN ZTL AIRSPACE.

Narrative: RADAR THAT APPEARED TO BE FUNCTIONING FAILED TO REVEAL AN IMBEDDED CELL IN WHICH WE ENCOUNTERED HAIL THAT DID SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE. WE WERE IN IMC CONDITIONS AND WERE DEPENDING ON THE RADAR FOR WX AVOIDANCE. IF THE RADAR HAD BEEN FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE CELL ALTOGETHER.

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.