CL65 CREW HAD FORWARD COCKPIT WINDSHIELD SHATTER AT FL410.
Synopsis
CL65 CREW HAD FORWARD COCKPIT WINDSHIELD SHATTER AT FL410.
Narrative
WHILE CRUISING OVER MISSISSIPPI AT FL410 WBOUND; IT BECAME NECESSARY TO DESCEND TO FL390 DUE TO TRAFFIC IN THE MEMPHIS CENTER AIRSPACE. AFTER OUR LEVELING OFF AT THIS NEW ALTITUDE; THE CAPTAIN'S WINDSHIELD SHATTERED! THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD THIS WINDSHIELD SHATTER ON ME WITHIN THE FIRST 90 SECONDS AFTER LEVELING AT A LOWER ALTITUDE. IT WOULD APPEAR TO ME THAT THE CANADA AIR REGIONAL JET HAS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELDS OF THESE ACFT. THESE WINDSHIELDS HAVE SHATTERED IN FLIGHT; AND ON THE GND WHILE SITTING AT THE GATE AREA. THIS IS A WINDSHIELD THAT HAS THREE LAYERS OF GLASS. THE CORE IS THE PORTION OF THE WINDOW THAT HAS SHATTERED ON MY TWO FLIGHTS. THIS EVENT TOOK PLACE 40NM E OF JACKSON VOR; AT FL390. AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED. THIRTEEN MINUTES LATER MY FLIGHT WAS IN THE CHOCKS AT JACKSON INTERNATIONAL ARPT; IN JACKSON; MISSISSIPPI. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS -62 DEGREES CELSIUS. THE INDICATED SPEED AFTER LEVEL OFF WAS STILL .77 MACH. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED INTO COUNTLESS 4 INCH LONG SHARDS OF GLASS. THE WINDSHIELD HEAT WAS SELECTED ON WHILE IN THE CHOCKS; ACCORDING TO OUR COMPANY BEFORE START CHECKLIST; AND WAS STILL ON IN FLIGHT AT THE TIME THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. EMERGENCY DECLARED WITH MEMPHIS CENTER AT XA:35. IN CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER INDICATES THAT HE HAS BEEN FLYING THE ACFT FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS. IN THAT TIME HE HAS HAD 2 SHATTERED WINDSHIELDS. THE LAST TIME MAINT INDICATED THAT 2 OF THE 3 STRUCTURAL MEMBERS HAD FAILED. THE MIDDLE PANE SHATTERED AND THE OUTER PANE WAS CRACKED. HAD THE REMAINING INNER PANE FAILED THE WINDOW WOULD HAVE EXPOSED THE CREW TO THE OUTSIDE; WITH THE RESULTING LOSS OF THE ACFT. THE RPTR CLAIMS THAT THE ACFT MANUFACTURER AND THE WINDOW MANUFACTURER BLAME EACH OTHER FOR THE FAILED WINDSHIELDS. LITTLE; IF ANY; PROGRESS IS BEING MADE TO FINDING A FIX. THE PLT KNOWS OF OTHER INCIDENTS WITH FAILED WINDOWS ON THE ACFT.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.