Chancellor 414A / C414
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250; Flight Crew Total 16000; Flight Crew Type 800
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Weather; Aircraft
Enroute cruise at 16;000 feet; our datalink weather was intermittent. We had notified the previous controller; but not the guy we were talking to.  We penetrated a small embedded cell; and in an attempt to exit it as soon as possible; I disengaged the auto pilot and started a level steep turn to a heading of 030 while asking ATC for relief on altitude due to the moderate turbulence and lifting in the cloud.  They answered us when we were at 16;800 feet MSL.  They had been offline and had not seen the storm growing that we flew into.  There was no conflict.  We exited the NE side of the cloud; descended back to 16;000 feet MSL and were cleared back to GLD then to destination to avoid weather.
C414 pilot experiences intermittent datalink weather capability at 16;000 feet and enters a small embedded cell. Evasive action is taken before clearance can be obtained from ATC resulting in significant heading and altitude deviations.