BE200 FLC HAS COCKPIT WINDSHIELD CRACK DURING CRUISE.

Date: 2002-12 · Aircraft: C-12 Huron · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|inflight-event-encounter-weather-turbulence

Synopsis

BE200 FLC HAS COCKPIT WINDSHIELD CRACK DURING CRUISE.

Narrative

ENRTE FROM FLINT; MICHIGAN TO FORT MYERS; FL; AT FL290; 2 PLTS 7 PAX ONBOARD; PLT SIDE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. WINDSHIELD WAS STILL INTACT; BUT SHATTERED COMPLETELY L TO R AND TOP TO BOTTOM. CABIN PRESSURE STILL HOLDING. AN EMER WAS DECLARED REQUESTING AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT AND VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT FOR LNDG. DID NOT KNOW THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGED WINDSHIELD. ALSO; REQUESTED ILS FREQS; COURSE; AND FIXES TO ATC FOR LESS WORKLOAD. THERE ARE 8 APCH BOOKS CARRIED ON BOARD THE ACFT; HOWEVER; WE NORMALLY CARRY THE APCH BOOKS FOR THE STATE OF THE DEP AND ARR ARPTS; INCLUDING CHARTS UP FRONT FOR EASY ACCESS TO THE PLTS. THE OTHER BOOKS ARE STOWED IN REAR OF ACFT DUE TO LACK OF SPACE. IT WAS AGREED BY ME AND THE PF NOT TO LEAVE OUR STATIONS TO RETRIEVE THE OHIO BOOK THAT WAS AT THE REAR OF ACFT. ATC WAS VERY HELPFUL IN THIS SIT THAT RESULTED IN A SUCCESSFUL ILS APCH (WHICH WAS NEEDED) AND LNDG. WX WAS 700 FT AND 2 MI. WINDSHIELD HEAT WAS ON AT THE TIME; AND WAS TURNED ON AT 9000 FT. I BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF THE PROB MIGHT HAVE BEEN A COMBINATION OF AN AGED WINDSHIELD; AND A MIX OF COLD OUTSIDE TEMPS AND A HEATED WINDSHIELD.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.