A319
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 125; Flight Crew Total 226; Flight Crew Type 226
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Workload; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Weather
Aircraft X experienced an upset aircraft state as a result of severe turbulence encountered on approach to ZZZ Runway XXR. The aircraft pitched to approximately 20 degrees nose up and 10 to 15 degrees left bank; disengaging the autopilot and causing the autothrust to increase power toward max. The airspeed decayed from 250 KIAS to 220 KIAS as the aircraft climbed from 10;000 ft. to 10;900 ft. before upset recovery procedures returned it to stable flight at 10;000 ft. and 250 KIAS. There were no injuries as passengers and flight attendants were seated early in anticipation of turbulence. There was no aircraft damage. Aircraft X made an uneventful landing on Runway XXR. The severe turbulence encounter was reported to Air Traffic Control and the Company. A full debrief was conducted with Flight Operations.Prior to descending into ZZZ; the First Officer (FO) and I discussed concerns about thunderstorms and convective activity in the terminal area. We had plenty of gas and I noted that ZZZ1 weather was excellent. I briefed the flight attendants to be seated approximately 20 minutes before touchdown. I then confirmed that they were seated. I made a PA to the passengers that I expected very bumpy conditions and I emphasized the need for them to obey the Fasten Seat Belt sign. The FO and I briefed windshear precautions; indications; and procedures while inbound to ZZZ2 for the ZZZZZ [arrival]. We did not re-brief the Upset Recovery procedures as they had been briefed prior to departure. (In retrospect; I think this could be good to review when windshear concerns are expressed as the windshear could result in an upset.) We were initially cleared on the ZZZZZ arrival. We loaded the Runway XXL ILS approach. Shortly into the descent; we had an AUTOFLT RUD TRIM 1 FAULT ECAM. I wrote it up as we were descending. Shortly after that; ATC vectored us off the arrival. ATC did not tell us what we should expect; but I heard several aircraft ahead of us receiving clearances to ZZZZZ1 for what I assumed would be the remainder of the ZZZZZ arrival. Radio communication congestion was significant. I sensed ATC was struggling to manage the number of arrivals from the north. I did not hear anyone receiving holding clearances. Holding might have alleviated the density of traffic and eased the friction for ATC. Eventually; we were told to do a 360 degree turn. Out of the turn; we were cleared to descend to 10;000 ft and given a heading of 190deg. I had heard another aircraft given a vector toward the ZZZZZ2 intersection; so I put it on the fix page for situational awareness. At that time; I was watching the radar which showed a cell next to the ZZZZZ2 intersection and another cell to the southwest. The two aircraft ahead of us were vectored through that gap. A 777 was behind us. At that time; we still did not know what arrival or approach clearance to expect. As we passed through the gap between the two cells; ATC said to advise when we could take a turn direct to ZZZZZ3. We did not have ZZZZZ3 loaded into the FMC. The FO did not know what ZZZZZ3 was. I asked him to load it and I spelled it out. (We still had Runway XXL loaded.) As we tried to get ZZZZZ3 loaded; along with the remainder of the ILS XXR approach; while still in the gap between the two cells; we experienced the severe turbulence and upset. After recovering the aircraft; I gave direction to the FO to load DIRECT ZZZZZ3 and I spelled it again. He did so; and we turned direct to the fix. He then connected the rest of the approach and it was flown uneventfully.As far as the execution of the Upset Recovery procedure; I did not comply with all the procedures. I also did not verbalize the steps and I did not silence the autopilot aural which resulted from the disconnect for quite some time. I had trouble focusing on the instruments and the 'Startle Effect' was significant.
Descending into ZZZ on the ZZZZZ arrival; we were taken off the arrival. I am assuming it was because of the convective weather in the area. We had flown in from the north and were being vectored west away from ZZZ. It seemed ATC was overwhelmed with all of the aircraft and bad weather in the area. Because we knew there was adverse weather around the airport the Captain sat the passengers and flight attendants well in advance. At one point while being vectored west we were told to fly multiple different headings which eventually made us complete a giant 360 degree turn. At the end of the turn I noticed that ATC was vectoring aircraft towards ZZZZZ2 intersection which seemed like ATC had found a gap they were funneling aircraft through. I pulled up ZZZZZ2 intersection on the fix page so we could see we where it was in relation to our position on the nav display. ATC gave us a heading of 190 that was towards ZZZZZ2 intersection. At this point ATC did not tell us which runway or routing to expect. While flying on a heading of 190 and 250 kts. at 10;000 ft. we flew into a cloud and at that point we experienced an upset event of severe turbulence. The aircraft gained about 900 ft.; dropped 30 kts.; banked 10-15 degrees and disengaged the autopilot. The Captain was flying and immediately returned us to straight and level flight. The Captain reported the incident to ATC and I checked in with the Flight Attendants and no injuries occurred in the cabin. After the event ATC told us to go to ZZZZZ3 intersection and to expect Runway XXR. We landed the airplane and contacted the company about the event.
Flight Crew reported severe turbulence caused a temporary loss of aircraft control.