<< >> NASA ASRS Report 747028, July 2007

B757 IFR in area of convective weather declares emergency to avoid cells when ATC fails to respond to requests to deviate.

Attributes
ACN	747028
Time
Date	200707
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 18000
Environment
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm Turbulence
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	747028
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

While being vectored by ARTCC we were getting critically close to some strong thunderstorms. ARTCC was overwhelmed and non-responsive to our requests to change course. We declared an emergency and changed course to try to avoid the worst cells. ATC's response to our emergency call was to 'chill-out.' while maneuvering; we encountered moderate turbulence; heavy rain and light hail. After about 5 mins; we were clear of the worst WX; so we canceled the emergency and gave a PIREP. Seat belt sign was on; flight attendants were seated. No injuries or damage were reported.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 IFR IN AREA OF CONVECTIVE WEATHER DECLARES EMERGENCY TO AVOID CELLS WHEN ATC FAILS TO RESPOND TO REQUESTS TO DEVIATE.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED BY ARTCC WE WERE GETTING CRITICALLY CLOSE TO SOME STRONG TSTMS. ARTCC WAS OVERWHELMED AND NON-RESPONSIVE TO OUR REQUESTS TO CHANGE COURSE. WE DECLARED AN EMER AND CHANGED COURSE TO TRY TO AVOID THE WORST CELLS. ATC'S RESPONSE TO OUR EMER CALL WAS TO 'CHILL-OUT.' WHILE MANEUVERING; WE ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TURB; HVY RAIN AND LIGHT HAIL. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINS; WE WERE CLR OF THE WORST WX; SO WE CANCELED THE EMER AND GAVE A PIREP. SEAT BELT SIGN WAS ON; FLT ATTENDANTS WERE SEATED. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE WERE RPTED.

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.