Date: 202002
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: IMC
Weather elements / visibility: Rain
Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Final Approach
Airspace: Class D ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Autopilot
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew FLC Overrode Automation; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Weather
Primary problem: Weather

Narrative: While on approach ILS XX into ZZZ; we got a report of severe turbulence from aircraft ahead of us; a smaller business jet. They immediately restated it as moderate so we continued on approach and gave the PA for the flight attendants to be seated immediately. We then around 8000+ ft. MSL did in fact encounter the moderate turbulence which knocked the autopilot off and we then lost FD guidance as well. The Captain was Flying Pilot and I was Pilot Monitoring. He started to reach up and reengage MCP and I told him I'd get it and that we were now flying raw data. We got low on glideslope so I pointed this out and he pitched up to get back on path. Meanwhile I reengaged approach mode and he continued to hand fly as we we're approaching 1;400 ft. AGL. The Captain was also now trying to get aircraft configured as it just didn't want to slow down. He called for flaps 30 but we got a gust so I waited. Flaps 30 was set about 1;100; he then called for flaps 40 landing checklist; but again speed was a few kts. high. We got the 1;000 ft. call and set missed approach altitude and then I set flaps 40 and completed landing checklist at about 800 ft. AGL. We were drifting right of course and the FD finally came back up but didn't make sense so [we] were about to go around when we broke out about 500-600 ft. AGL and saw Runway XX to our left. I pointed it out; the Captain saw it and I said to land. He pointed nose down and made a nice landing and we exited A2 taxiway. We did get a soft glide slope warning just before landing to which the Captain responded with correcting with slight pitch up.We debriefed what we could before opening the door. In hind sight; there may have been a few spots where we might have gone around but in trying to regain our combined SA (Situational Awareness) and due to fact that there was moderate turbulence; high terrain ahead with IMC conditions and worry of loss of guidance; landing with the runway in sight seemed to be the safest course of action at that moment.We debriefed what we could before opening the door.  In hind sight; there may have been a few spots where we might have gone around but in trying to regain our combined SA and due to fact that there was moderate turbulence; high terrain ahead with IMC conditions and worry of loss of guidance; landing with the runway in sight seemed to be the safest course of action at that moment.




Synopsis: B737 Captain reported the autopilot disengaged and flight director guidance was lost after the aircraft encountered moderate turbulence during an ILS approach in IMC.