BE20 PLT HAD THE FO'S WINDOW SHATTER AT FL210.

Narrative

I WAS IN CRUISE FLT AT FL210 ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. I WAS IN VMC WITH A SOLID CLOUD DECK BELOW. ABOUT 30 MINS INTO THE FLT FROM CHA TO RWI; THE COPLT'S WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. I WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF BOTH THE INNER AND OUTER PANELS WERE BROKEN; OR ONLY THE INNER. PIECES OF GLASS FELL FROM THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD ONTO THE COPLT; GLARE SHIELD; AND PEDESTAL. I DECLARED AN EMER AND INITIATED AN EMER DSCNT. I REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST LARGE ARPT WHICH WAS AVL. I HAD TO DSND THROUGH A CLOUD DECK AND SHOOT AN ILS APCH. I WILL HAVE TO COMMEND ZTL AND ASHVILLE APCH/TWR FOR THEIR SUPERB HANDLING OF THE SIT. UPON LNDG AND AFTER INSPECTION BY A MECH; IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONLY THE INNER GLASS HAD BROKEN. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE PLT HAD NOTICED THE WINDOW DELAMINATING ABOUT 2 WKS BEFORE THE INCIDENT. HE RPTED IT IN THE ACFT MAINT LOGBOOK. MAINT SIGNED THE WINDOW OFF AS OK; AS IT WAS NOT IN THE PLT'S VISION. PLT SAID IT WAS THE WORST WINDOW HE HAD EVER SEEN. THEN THE WINDOW SHATTERED; IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. AFTER LNDG; THE ACFT WAS INSPECTED. THEY GOT A FERRY PERMIT FROM THE FAA FOR AN UNPRESSURIZED FLT TO THEIR MAINT FACILITY.