<< >> NASA ASRS Report 1684739, September 2019

B737-800 flight crew reported ineffective windshield wiper system; resulting in difficulty seeing the runway when landing.

Attributes
ACN	1684739
Time
Date	201909
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	HOU.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Landing
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Rain Repellent System
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 347
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe

Narrative:

Upon breaking out of the cloud base in moderate rain; the visibility with wipers on high was terrible. All images were nothing more than a blur. Runway lights were a scattered blur! It was very difficult to discern the approach lighting system; the runway edge lights and taxiway lights. Runway and taxiway markings were all but impossible to see. The 'rain repellent qualities' of theses windshields are nonexistent! My experience with our old aircraft equipped with rain repellent is that one press of the button would have provided a crystal clear windshield. This reduced windshield visibility in rain is an additive condition that is obviously degrading safety. In retrospect; with a 900 ft. Ceiling and six miles visibility; we should have diverted to an alternate because of inadequate visibility through the windshield in rain. If something can be done to improve the rain repellent qualities of these windshields; we need to do it.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 flight crew reported ineffective windshield wiper system; resulting in difficulty seeing the runway when landing.

Narrative: Upon breaking out of the cloud base in moderate rain; the visibility with wipers on high was terrible. All images were nothing more than a blur. Runway lights were a scattered blur! It was very difficult to discern the approach lighting system; the runway edge lights and taxiway lights. Runway and taxiway markings were all but impossible to see. The 'rain repellent qualities' of theses windshields are nonexistent! My experience with our old aircraft equipped with rain repellent is that one press of the button would have provided a crystal clear windshield. This reduced windshield visibility in rain is an additive condition that is obviously degrading Safety. In retrospect; with a 900 ft. ceiling and six miles visibility; we should have diverted to an alternate because of inadequate visibility through the windshield in rain. If something can be done to improve the rain repellent qualities of these windshields; we need to do it.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.