What happened
The aircraft was operating in the cruise phase of flight when it reached flight level 270. At this altitude, the right side cockpit window suddenly failed, leading to immediate cabin decompression. The pilot responded by diverting the flight to Normal for a routine landing.
The investigation
Following the incident, maintenance personnel examined the aircraft and discovered that the lower bolts securing the window were overtorqued. Additionally, the plexiglass was found to be compromised by excess primer, which initiated cracking in the material. Evidence indicated that the window was not part of the original installation.
Findings
A review of the maintenance records showed no documentation of a window replacement. The failure was attributed to improper installation practices and material defects introduced during a prior, undocumented service event.