B727 ACFT IN CRUISE AND APCHING AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS TEMPORARILY LOST THE RADAR. ENTERED HEAVY WX RESULTING IN SHATTERED OUTER PANE OF FO'S WINDSHIELD. FLT CREW COMMENCED AN EMER DSCNT; BUT SOON BROKE OUT OF WX.

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ACR FLT DEPARTED BOS ENROUTE TO FLL AT XA40; 4/THU/98. ON BOARD CONDUCTING A ROUTINE SAFETY INSPECTION WAS A MIAMI BASED FAA INSPECTOR. AT APPROXIMATELY XB15; WHILE SBND ON J174 OUT OF HTO; THE WX RADAR SCREEN STOPPED INDICATING WX RELATED RETURNS IN AN AREA OF KNOWN THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. IT WASN'T 'BLANK;' BUT WASN'T SHOWING RETURNS. THE POM WAS REFERENCED TO FIND NO SPECIFIC PROC FOR TROUBLESHOOTING THIS OCCURRENCE. WITH THE FLT IN IMC; THE CAPT AND FO QUERIED ZDC ABOUT CELL LOCATION IN OUR FLT PATH. THE SEATBELT SIGN WAS TURNED ON AND; AT THIS TIME; THE CAPT DIRECTED THE CABIN CREW TO TAKE SEATS. SHORTLY AFTER STEERING TO A HEADING OFF AIRWAY WITH ZDC'S COMPLIANCE; THE WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A CELL IN OUR PATH JUST PRIOR TO ENTRY. SHORTLY AFTER ENTRY WHILE IN HEAVY RAIN; MODERATE HAIL AND TURB; THE FO'S WINDSHIELD OUTER PLY SHATTERED. THE CAPT DIRECTED THE USE OF FLT IGNITION; SHOULDER HARNESSES; AND A 7700 SQUAWK ALONG WITH VHF COMS TO INDICATE HIS INTENTION TO DSCND TO 17000 FT MSL TO MINIMIZE STRESS ON THE WINDSHIELD AND FURTHER MATERIAL DEGRADATION. A FEW MOMENTS LATER; THE ACFT EXITED THE CELL IN VMC. COMS WERE ESTABLISHED WITH ZDC AND DISCUSSION FOLLOWED CONCERNING THE CELL ENTRY; OUR EMERGENCY SQUAWK; AND ALT DEV. THE FLT CONTINUED TO FLL IN VISUAL CONDITIONS WITH THE WX RADAR WORKING 4.0 FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. THE POM WAS CONSULTED REGARDING THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD. SINCE THE ONLY RESTRICTION WAS TO REMAIN BELOW 250 KIAS WHEN BELOW 10;000 FT MSL; EXTENDED FLT TO DESTINATION WAS DECIDED UPON BY THE CAPT AND CREW.