Emergency diversion to rdu after numerous passenger injured when an MD80 encounters severe turbulence at FL330 in proximity of thunderstorm activity north of chs, sc.

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Attributes
ACN	549968
Time
Date	200206
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : chs.vortac
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm Turbulence
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	549968
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude cabin event other inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : turbulence non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other other other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Weather Passenger Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

On flight from mia to lga, we experienced severe turbulence at FL330. We were north of chs on vectors from ATC for WX avoidance. Seat belt sign was on and passenger were briefed both at the gate and en route about the chop en route. Radar was on and as we approached the west (upwind) side of the cloud, it appeared clear. We experienced 2 severe jolts -- first positive G's, then negative G's. Duration was 3-5 seconds. Autoplt disconnected and we got numerous aural warnings and inoperative flags etc. Regained control of aircraft. Got a call from the flight attendants. There were numerous passenger hurt with cuts on head and bruises. Immediately notified ATC about turbulence encounter, declared an emergency and wanted direct routing to rdu. Flight attendants were ok and unhurt. Descent and landing uneventful. Paramedics and company officials met us at the gate. Injured passenger were taken off the plane by medical personnel. Maintenance personnel inspected the aircraft and aircraft returned to service the next day.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMER DIVERSION TO RDU AFTER NUMEROUS PAX INJURED WHEN AN MD80 ENCOUNTERS SEVERE TURB AT FL330 IN PROX OF TSTM ACTIVITY N OF CHS, SC.

Narrative: ON FLT FROM MIA TO LGA, WE EXPERIENCED SEVERE TURB AT FL330. WE WERE N OF CHS ON VECTORS FROM ATC FOR WX AVOIDANCE. SEAT BELT SIGN WAS ON AND PAX WERE BRIEFED BOTH AT THE GATE AND ENRTE ABOUT THE CHOP ENRTE. RADAR WAS ON AND AS WE APCHED THE W (UPWIND) SIDE OF THE CLOUD, IT APPEARED CLEAR. WE EXPERIENCED 2 SEVERE JOLTS -- FIRST POSITIVE G'S, THEN NEGATIVE G'S. DURATION WAS 3-5 SECONDS. AUTOPLT DISCONNECTED AND WE GOT NUMEROUS AURAL WARNINGS AND INOP FLAGS ETC. REGAINED CTL OF ACFT. GOT A CALL FROM THE FLT ATTENDANTS. THERE WERE NUMEROUS PAX HURT WITH CUTS ON HEAD AND BRUISES. IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED ATC ABOUT TURB ENCOUNTER, DECLARED AN EMER AND WANTED DIRECT ROUTING TO RDU. FLT ATTENDANTS WERE OK AND UNHURT. DSCNT AND LNDG UNEVENTFUL. PARAMEDICS AND COMPANY OFFICIALS MET US AT THE GATE. INJURED PAX WERE TAKEN OFF THE PLANE BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL. MAINT PERSONNEL INSPECTED THE ACFT AND ACFT RETURNED TO SVC THE NEXT DAY.

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.