Event Summary
On an unspecified date, a Bell 206B rotorcraft was in level cruise flight at 110–115 miles per hour approximately 1,500 feet above ground level (agl) when the right front windscreen shattered and separated from its frame. The helicopter subsequently yawed to the right and entered a descending right turn. The pilot regained control and recovered from the descent at about 500 feet agl.
Examination
An FAA inspector examined the helicopter after the event. The inspection revealed that the center portion of the windscreen had broken inward, while the edges remained attached to the airframe. The inspector reported no evidence of a bird strike.
Background Information
The windscreen had been replaced in 1992. According to the operator, a warp was noted on the far right side of the pilot's windscreen when the rotorcraft was acquired. The pilot reported that a mechanic associated with the previous owner attributed the warp to an unknown heat source in the past. However, this could not be positively linked to the separation that occurred during the flight.