A310 first officer experiences a left window heat fault at FL350 and the heat is turned off and the ...

Narrative:

While cruising at FL350; ECAM displayed a left window heat fault. Complied with the ECAM by turning off/right the left window heat. I hacked a clock and then pulled out the QRH to see if it contained any additional information. Before I turned the switch back on after the reset; the left front windscreen made a popping sound and spider-webbed. Conveniently; I had the QRH in hand so we complied with the cockpit window cracked procedure. We contacted center and requested a descent to FL230. We descended to FL230 and set the ldg elevation accordingly. We did not request any further assistance and did not declare an emergency. We transferred aircraft control prior to the final descent and I flew an uneventful descent; approach; and landing. The left window heat faulted while cruising at FL350. After complying with ECAM; the window cracked. Malfunctions occur and I am not aware of how this one could have been avoided or prevented.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A310 First Officer experiences a left window heat fault at FL350 and the heat is turned off and the QRH consulted. Before the heat is turned back on the window cracks. Flight descends to FL230 and continues to destination.

Narrative: While cruising at FL350; ECAM displayed a Left Window Heat Fault. Complied with the ECAM by turning OFF/R the Left Window Heat. I hacked a clock and then pulled out the QRH to see if it contained any additional information. Before I turned the switch back on after the reset; the left front windscreen made a popping sound and spider-webbed. Conveniently; I had the QRH in hand so we complied with the cockpit window cracked procedure. We contacted Center and requested a descent to FL230. We descended to FL230 and set the LDG ELEVATION accordingly. We did not request any further assistance and did not declare an emergency. We transferred aircraft control prior to the final descent and I flew an uneventful descent; approach; and landing. The Left Window Heat faulted while cruising at FL350. After complying with ECAM; the window cracked. Malfunctions occur and I am not aware of how this one could have been avoided or prevented.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1126997
Time
Date	201311
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A310
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Cockpit Window
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe

A310 first officer experiences a left window heat fault at FL350 and the heat is turned off and the QRH consulted. Before the heat is turned back on the window cracks. Flight descends to FL230 and continues to destination.