An air carrier large transport landed en route when one of its cockpit windows cracked and bulged.

Attributes
ACN	261812
Time
Date	199401
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : crg airport : mco
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	261812
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

En route to dtw at FL330 we noticed a crack moving across first officer's forward facing window (R-1). After the crack had moved completely across the window, the cockpit crew decided that a diversion to an alternate airport should be started. After requesting a descent, several other cracks started. We performed our company procedures for such a failure and raised the cabin altitude as we began our descent. Center was unable to accommodate our continued requests for lower so we declared and emergency and descended at will at first, we were unsure of the extent of our emergency and wondered how long the window would remain intact. We continued to mco and landed without further incident. Crew communication throughout was very good. Input from cockpit jumpseater (FAA controller) was also helpful. She mentioned 'that now she could appreciate or realize how fast a situation could arise and what help was needed/required from ATC.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LGT LANDED ENRTE WHEN ONE OF ITS COCKPIT WINDOWS CRACKED AND BULGED.

Narrative: ENRTE TO DTW AT FL330 WE NOTICED A CRACK MOVING ACROSS FO'S FORWARD FACING WINDOW (R-1). AFTER THE CRACK HAD MOVED COMPLETELY ACROSS THE WINDOW, THE COCKPIT CREW DECIDED THAT A DIVERSION TO AN ALTERNATE ARPT SHOULD BE STARTED. AFTER REQUESTING A DSCNT, SEVERAL OTHER CRACKS STARTED. WE PERFORMED OUR COMPANY PROCS FOR SUCH A FAILURE AND RAISED THE CABIN ALT AS WE BEGAN OUR DSCNT. CTR WAS UNABLE TO ACCOMMODATE OUR CONTINUED REQUESTS FOR LOWER SO WE DECLARED AND EMER AND DSNDED AT WILL AT FIRST, WE WERE UNSURE OF THE EXTENT OF OUR EMER AND WONDERED HOW LONG THE WINDOW WOULD REMAIN INTACT. WE CONTINUED TO MCO AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. CREW COM THROUGHOUT WAS VERY GOOD. INPUT FROM COCKPIT JUMPSEATER (FAA CTLR) WAS ALSO HELPFUL. SHE MENTIONED 'THAT NOW SHE COULD APPRECIATE OR REALIZE HOW FAST A SIT COULD ARISE AND WHAT HELP WAS NEEDED/REQUIRED FROM ATC.'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.