Q400
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Physiological - Other
Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Environment - Non Weather Related
[We] took off behind a B747 [at] SEA. [There] seemed to be plenty of separation; no concerns. [We] got 190 heading from Departure and multiple step-up climbs. Upon leveling at 5;000 FT; [we] encountered one violent 'jolt' of severe turbulence. Suspected wake turbulence from B747 as there was no other significant turbulence or convective activity (no other reasonable explanations). Autopilot disengaged. First Officer gained control of aircraft and leveled at 5;000 FT as instructed. First Officer sustained no significant obvious injuries. Captain hit head on projector above head leading to a cut/bleeding; stiff neck; headache and 'foggy' feeling. Continued to [destination] without further incidents. Captain went to ER to get checked out.
A Q400 Captain reported encountering a jolt of severe turbulence from a preceding B747 on departure from SEA. The Captain reported that he banged his head and sustained a concussion from the event.