An E-145 flight crew declared an emergency and diverted to a nearby airport when the outer layer of the Captain's windshield shattered during a windshear induced altitude excursion while avoiding weather.
Synopsis
An E-145 flight crew declared an emergency and diverted to a nearby airport when the outer layer of the Captain's windshield shattered during a windshear induced altitude excursion while avoiding weather.
Narrative
Due to weather in the area; we took a more southerly route. Upon leveling off at FL370 we encountered a strong updraft. In the process of getting control of the aircraft and getting us back to our assigned altitude; we heard a loud pop. We then noticed the [outer layer] of the Captain's windshield had cracked. I called Center to declare an emergency and requested a lower altitude immediately and direct to our destination. The aircraft remained pressurized as we descended and we had the airplane under control. I ran the cracked/impaired windshield checklist per the AOM. During this time we noticed the windshield cracking more and more. I then made the decision to divert to an airport 50 NM off our left wing. I called our Flight Attendant and explained the situation and made a PA to the passengers. I called our Dispatcher as well as our diversion station. We landed the airplane safely; taxied the airplane to the gate; and off loaded our passengers with no other problems. We never got a call from ATC about our altitude deviation; nor did we get any kind of TCAS Alert. Local Maintenance took the airplane back to the hanger to repair the windshield.
Second reporter narrative
We worked to get the plane back to level flight and our assigned altitude and thats when we heard a loud pop and noticed the Captain's windshield had busted.I then initiated a a steep and and controlled descent to 10;000 FT MSL while slowing down below 250 IAS.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.