Narrative:

A line of WX developed east of bwi. Was given a hold over bilit intersection. After 3 turns in a hold, ZDC asked if I wanted to head up to acy-ods-bwi to get around the line of WX. After talking to dispatch and ATC, we decided that this plan of action would work. (Other air carrier went through with little problem before us.) we began this plan at 13000 ft MSL and 260 KTS. We encountered light rain and light turbulence. Closest WX cell was about 15-20 mi away. About over ood, we encountered what was a static discharge. Upon landing in bwi, we had maintenance inspect for a possible lightning strike/static discharge. Maintenance found on tailcone an exit point. They could not find the entry point. The log was signed off after the rivet was repaired and the aircraft was returned to service. We continued our flight without any further occurrence.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MAINT DELAY AT BWI IS INCURRED WITH A B737 FLT THAT HAD EXPERIENCED A STATIC DISCHARGE AT 13000 FT WHILE DETOURING SEVERE WX NEAR OOD VORTAC, NJ.

Narrative: A LINE OF WX DEVELOPED E OF BWI. WAS GIVEN A HOLD OVER BILIT INTXN. AFTER 3 TURNS IN A HOLD, ZDC ASKED IF I WANTED TO HEAD UP TO ACY-ODS-BWI TO GET AROUND THE LINE OF WX. AFTER TALKING TO DISPATCH AND ATC, WE DECIDED THAT THIS PLAN OF ACTION WOULD WORK. (OTHER ACR WENT THROUGH WITH LITTLE PROB BEFORE US.) WE BEGAN THIS PLAN AT 13000 FT MSL AND 260 KTS. WE ENCOUNTERED LIGHT RAIN AND LIGHT TURB. CLOSEST WX CELL WAS ABOUT 15-20 MI AWAY. ABOUT OVER OOD, WE ENCOUNTERED WHAT WAS A STATIC DISCHARGE. UPON LNDG IN BWI, WE HAD MAINT INSPECT FOR A POSSIBLE LIGHTNING STRIKE/STATIC DISCHARGE. MAINT FOUND ON TAILCONE AN EXIT POINT. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE ENTRY POINT. THE LOG WAS SIGNED OFF AFTER THE RIVET WAS REPAIRED AND THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO SVC. WE CONTINUED OUR FLT WITHOUT ANY FURTHER OCCURRENCE.

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.