Airbus 318/319/320/321 Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Other / Unknown
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Speed All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Weather
We were descending on the CAMPS3 arrival to ILS 2 with auto pilot on and with airspeed of 240 knots intervened. We were informed that there were reports of light to moderate chop between 4500 and 3500 feet but that the reports were over an hour old. I informed the Flight Attendants of impending chop and to stow everything and be seated. After HARPO we were given a heading turning us more northerly inside of CAMPS. Passing 4700 feet we started picking up light to moderate chop which quickly escalated to moderate to severe by 4000 feet. In a right angle of bank in open descent with partial speed brakes passing 3700 feet airspeed trend arrow was fluctuating +- 40 knots and instruments were becoming difficult to read. Though in a descent; the next thing we knew we had climbed back up above 4500 feet and airspeed had bled off to near the amber foot. Next; the Auto Pilot kicked off and it was difficult to know what we had as the instruments were difficult to read so I declared 'ESCAPE' and 'TOGA'; selected TOGA and stowed the speed brakes. Passing 6000 feet the aircraft settled down so we could see what we had and so I reinstated Auto Pilot 1; selected Climb Power and continued the climb to 7000 feet. We then informed HFC that we had experienced up to severe turbulence. They seemed very surprised at the report as they had no adverse reports recently. They suggested that we could approach the airport from the south instead of the west and might bypass the rough air. We agreed and they turned us south to intercept the Glide Slope out near CAMPS. The ride seemed better well south of the field near CAMPS so we slowed to 210 and configured to flaps 1 at 3000 feet. The airspeed trend arrow was still fluctuating +- 10 knots. About 5 NM from the IAF the turbulence picked up again and within seconds the airspeed had increased over 40 knots. We had 2 moments where the airspeed exceeded the flaps 1 barber pole and we got the accompanying aural warning. We once again reported the severe turbulence asked for a higher altitude and declared that we would be diverting to ZZZ. Once we were climbing and had established our routing to ZZZ; I made a brief announcement to the people that we were fine and were on our way to ZZZ. I then sent a divert report to dispatch via ACARS. I received a reply from dispatch surprised at my report and questioning if I was truly diverting. I replied yes due to severe turbulence. Luckily; there were no injuries and only minor aircraft damage. One static wick missing and one fastener popped.
Captain was Pilot Flying. I was Pilot Not Flying. In the descent to 3000 feet. We were advised by ATC that there was reported light to moderate chop between approximately 4500 to 3500 feet; but that the report was over an hour old. After HARPO; while receiving vectors inside of CAMPS and at about 4500 feet we started to pick up light chop. We were in the descent with partial speed brakes and I believe in a right hand turn when around 3700 feet we hit moderate to severe turbulence. The instruments were difficult to see but I noticed our altitude was back up to around 4600 feet and still trying to descend and our speed was fluctuating by +/- 40 knots; to VLS [lowest selectable speed] and below. I verified our altitude with the Captain. I thought I felt the engines spool up but it was visually hard to verify; and then the Auto Pilot disengaged. The Captain manually executed a go around and I immediately contacted approach to request a climb. We were then cleared to 7000 feet and the Auto Pilot was reengaged. ATC felt that there would be smoother air out to the south. We were vectored that direction away from the terrain. The ride was better so we began a descent to 3000 feet; slowed to about 210 knots and configured to Flaps1. Near Camps the turbulence aggressively picked up again and the airspeed was fluctuating by about 40 knots or so and the Captain was unable to keep the aircraft from over speeding the flaps. At that point; we abandoned the approach and requested climb and divert to ZZZ. No injuries reported; and divert to ZZZ was uneventful. Un-forecasted severity of turbulence; with no recent reports. Better forecasts if possible. But; as we were the first plane through in over an hour I'm not sure how it would be possible to accurately predict the severity of the turbulence.
Air carrier flight crew reported severe turbulence approaching OGG with speed fluctuating +- 40 knots and went around twice before diverting.