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IFR PA31 at 7000 encountered heavy turbulence; requested/received climb to 8000; turbulence caused yoke release resulting altitude deviation.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 729297 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200702 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zhu.artcc |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8400 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Turbulence |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zhu.artcc tower : far.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial |
| Experience | controller non radar : 27 controller radar : 5 flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 200 |
| ASRS Report | 729297 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : turbulence |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
Narrative:
I was flying 7000 ft in IMC. Very heavy turbulence and just inside the cumulus top. I requested higher and was given 8000 ft placing me in VFR. As I reached 8000 ft I still encountered very heavy turbulence causing my aircraft to first descend and then ascend very rapidly. This violent and abrupt action caused my head to hit the top of the aircraft bending my neck to the extreme side knocking my headset off my head and into the floor. My hands were jarred free of the yoke and the aircraft was quickly at 8400 ft when center informed me of my altitude violation. I quickly descended to assigned altitude with no further incidence.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: IFR PA31 AT 7000 ENCOUNTERED HEAVY TURBULENCE; REQUESTED/RECEIVED CLIMB TO 8000; TURBULENCE CAUSED YOKE RELEASE RESULTING ALT DEVIATION.
Narrative: I WAS FLYING 7000 FT IN IMC. VERY HVY TURB AND JUST INSIDE THE CUMULUS TOP. I REQUESTED HIGHER AND WAS GIVEN 8000 FT PLACING ME IN VFR. AS I REACHED 8000 FT I STILL ENCOUNTERED VERY HVY TURB CAUSING MY ACFT TO FIRST DSND AND THEN ASCEND VERY RAPIDLY. THIS VIOLENT AND ABRUPT ACTION CAUSED MY HEAD TO HIT THE TOP OF THE ACFT BENDING MY NECK TO THE EXTREME SIDE KNOCKING MY HEADSET OFF MY HEAD AND INTO THE FLOOR. MY HANDS WERE JARRED FREE OF THE YOKE AND THE ACFT WAS QUICKLY AT 8400 FT WHEN CTR INFORMED ME OF MY ALT VIOLATION. I QUICKLY DSNDED TO ASSIGNED ALT WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENCE.
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.