B737-800
Workload; Physiological - Other; Situational Awareness
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation; General Declared Emergency
Weather
The morning was routine with our briefings; as well as our brief discussion of the weather. For the most part; our route was south of the weather. We were flying at FL380 rides were deteriorating at all altitudes. En route; we were deviating south of some weather after it was determined we would not be on top of it. Later on; ATC gave us new routing; putting us closer to the weather. As we got closer to our destination; there was some more weather in the area. We evaluated deviation versus topping the weather. We both agreed we would easily top it and be in the clear; shortly thereafter; the Pitch Limit Indicator (PLI) and the airspeed decreasing. Then; we encountered a severe downdraft followed by the aircraft banking aggressively left to right. The stick shaker; bank angle; then later; the overspeed warnings came on. I lowered the nose as well as tried to return the aircraft to a wings level condition. I glanced at the radar to try to find somewhere smoother to go; but there was nothing anywhere on the radar. For awhile later; there was still moderate turbulence. We declared an emergency; and the Captain called the flight attendants several times to check on them and the passengers. We proceeded to our destination. The approach; landing; and taxi in were uneventful. At the gate; we tried to help check on the flight attendants and passengers.
Downdraft caused a descent from FL380 to FL310 and we also experienced left and right rolling of the aircraft. Made a PA to tell all onboard to insure seat belts were fastened. We recovered at FL310 climbed to FL320 declared and emergency with Center. I was in contact with the flight attendants who were keeping me informed of the situation in the cabin. Paramedics met the aircraft at the gate to take care of any injured. I made a logbook entry in the aircraft maintenance log regarding the severe turbulence encounter.
A B737-800 encountered severe turbulence at FL380 where; in a downdraft; it descended to FL310 after which an emergency was declared and upon arrival at the destination paramedics met the aircraft to attend the injured.