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An EMB145 in cruise at FL340 experienced a lightning strike incurring damage to the #2 communication and limited use of #1 communication.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 696216 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200505 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 34000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Thunderstorm |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zfw.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 750 flight time type : 250 |
| ASRS Report | 696216 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Consequence | other other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
In IMC; we were flying along at FL340; and we saw a thunderstorm ahead on radar. We asked to turn and we were cleared to deviation. While at least 25 mi from the storm; we were hit by lightning. Comrdo #2 was hit by lightning and stopped working. Communication #1 radio was only working temporarily. At the same time; the pressurization system showed a climb of 3000 FPM. At the time; we were not sure if we had been hit by lightning and if any system were affected. So we put on the masks and started a descent to FL250. With limited communications; it was difficult to get in touch with ATC to get this clearance. At FL250 we were able to communication with ATC through another aircraft. ATC then told us to maintain FL250. The pressurization stabilized and we continued to ZZZ1. As soon as we were able to communication with ZZZ approach; we had full control over communication #1. On inspection after landing; we discovered communication #2 blown apart and burn marks on the flaps and tail.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN EMB145 IN CRUISE AT FL340 EXPERIENCED A LIGHTNING STRIKE INCURRING DAMAGE TO THE #2 COM AND LIMITED USE OF #1 COM.
Narrative: IN IMC; WE WERE FLYING ALONG AT FL340; AND WE SAW A TSTM AHEAD ON RADAR. WE ASKED TO TURN AND WE WERE CLRED TO DEV. WHILE AT LEAST 25 MI FROM THE STORM; WE WERE HIT BY LIGHTNING. COMRDO #2 WAS HIT BY LIGHTNING AND STOPPED WORKING. COM #1 RADIO WAS ONLY WORKING TEMPORARILY. AT THE SAME TIME; THE PRESSURIZATION SYS SHOWED A CLB OF 3000 FPM. AT THE TIME; WE WERE NOT SURE IF WE HAD BEEN HIT BY LIGHTNING AND IF ANY SYS WERE AFFECTED. SO WE PUT ON THE MASKS AND STARTED A DSCNT TO FL250. WITH LIMITED COMS; IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ATC TO GET THIS CLRNC. AT FL250 WE WERE ABLE TO COM WITH ATC THROUGH ANOTHER ACFT. ATC THEN TOLD US TO MAINTAIN FL250. THE PRESSURIZATION STABILIZED AND WE CONTINUED TO ZZZ1. AS SOON AS WE WERE ABLE TO COM WITH ZZZ APCH; WE HAD FULL CTL OVER COM #1. ON INSPECTION AFTER LNDG; WE DISCOVERED COM #2 BLOWN APART AND BURN MARKS ON THE FLAPS AND TAIL.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.