This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports.
I was cruising at 8,000 feet in a Bonanza 36 on an IFR flight when I entered a benign cloud bank.
Shortly after going IMC, I encountered localized extreme turbulence, hitting my head on the ceiling, and the autopilot disconnected. I was stunned momentarily, but then realized the plane was in an unusual attitude (i.e. dive) and with very strong downdrafts and heavy controls.
I recovered from the unusual attitude and I informed ATC that I had encountered extreme turbulence and downdrafts and could not hold altitude.
Exiting IMC, the turbulence subsided and I had lost several thousand feet of altitude.
I requested and was cleared to 6,000 and completed the flight without further incident.
I think that the extremely high temperatures (near 100°) on the ground and flying in the afternoon heat cumulatively contributed to a localized turbulent weather condition.
The weather picture on the avionics did not show either precipitation, lightning, nor storm cell attributes at my position (or projected path), however there was evidently enough energy in the air to cause the extreme localized turbulence and downdrafts encountered.
Primary Problem: Weather
ACN: 2140217
When you click on the link it will take you to the ASRS Online Database. Click on Report Number and put the ACN in the search box, then click Search. On that page, click on “view only the 1 most recent report.”
AOPA member caps do not have buttons on top. You can get one by joining or renewing your membership to AOPA.
Unless you’re completely IFR rated and competent, and NO ICE, just stay out of the arena in light planes. It’s not worth your life, no matter how you cut it. Even NIGHT VFR in single engine airplanes is a WISH ON A WING AND AN ENGINE and not worth the chance. Dan Gryder at Probable Cause on YouTube has ‘THE PLAN’… and EVERY pilot should be following his extremely insightful advice.
While returning along the coast I encountered severe turbulence, severe enough to tear my overnight bag from the seat next to me. At times for about the next 1/4 hr I was frequently tumbling as if in the rapids of a raging river. On landing my aircraft went directly to maintenance for a thorough examination & was released later with no problems found after a thorough drying out. I never hit my head once on the canopy (although the overnight bag torn from the seat next to me managed to hit my head.) I survived this encounter as I have full shoulder and waist harness fitted & ALWAYS wear it tight. Wearing it like this keeps me firmly in my seat and part of the plane. (Was taught to do this by my exWW2 instructors) Try a full harness. It works well & it may save on headache pills in the future !
Paul.
For everyone: Do you wear a “baseball” cap while flying?
Sailplane (glider) pilots are usually very close to the canopy above their heads, and very often encounter strong forces while negotiating to find lift under clouds and above dust devils.
Thus a great many of them remove the “button” on the top of most baseball caps. Hitting one’s head against the canopy in turbulence is bad enough but hitting it while wearing a cap with a button usually makes it far, far worse.
Consider removing those buttons!
I’ve always removed the button so that the headset band fits better.
Great tip. Thanks!!!
FYI Related…
FAA-H-8083-28A Aviation Weather Handbook
https://www.faa.gov/regulationspolicies/handbooksmanuals/aviation/faa-h-8083-28a-aviation-weather-handbook
Wort Weather in the US… Alaska… lots of useful stuff in a smaller bite-size…
FAI FSS – Weather Information
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/systemops/fs/alaskan/alaska/fai/weather
Severe Weather and Natural Disaster Preparedness
https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/hurricane_season
Welcome to New Mexico (normal, everyday weather)
Often encountered weather the weather folks didn’t know was there until I told them. First on the scene while it was in the making!…lol
Certainly had a few incidents where the outcome was looking quite debatable.
Evidently not so “benign”.