Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 110; Flight Crew Total 11600; Flight Crew Type 620
Distraction
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related
At cruise; clear; smooth. We were assisting a passenger in getting refreshments from the galley area just behind the pilot; when we began to sense a 'burble' that rapidly increased in intensity to near moderate turbulence; rolling the aircraft to perhaps a 45-degree right bank; causing the autopilot to disconnect. The roll caused the aircraft to descend; until I realized what was happening and took manual control; leveling the wings; climbing back to altitude and returning to track. We then contacted Center and advised them of the turbulence; upset; and deviation from altitude and track. The information regarding the location of the disturbed air was passed along to other aircraft in the area.
A C560XL encountered roll inducing turbulence at cruise which caused the autopilot to disconnect; momentary loss of control and a loss of altitude prior to recovery.