First officer's front window partially fails. Inner pane of 3 cracks while at FL280 in a CL65RJ.

Attributes
ACN	360511
Time
Date	199702
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vhp
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Challenger CL604
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other other other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	360511
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2700 flight time type : 340
ASRS Report	360510
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

At FL280 the first officer's windshield's inner windshield cracked and we declared an emergency. The checklist was followed and we descended and returned to cvg, which was the most suitable airport in time. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter was in a CL65RJ. The air carrier has been having some problems with the front windshields cracking, usually the inner pane of the 3 panes within the window. The reporter knows of 3 other events of the same nature, with all cracking in the inner pane. The captain said it was a 'delamination of the inner pane.' it usually starts as a minor crack prior to its failing. There was no previous indication in this event. He said that his company, the FAA, and aircraft manufacturer are working with the window manufacturer to solve this issue. The solution is 'in the mill' and he doesn't know the status of the fix.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FO'S FRONT WINDOW PARTIALLY FAILS. INNER PANE OF 3 CRACKS WHILE AT FL280 IN A CL65RJ.

Narrative: AT FL280 THE FO'S WINDSHIELD'S INNER WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND WE DECLARED AN EMER. THE CHKLIST WAS FOLLOWED AND WE DSNDED AND RETURNED TO CVG, WHICH WAS THE MOST SUITABLE ARPT IN TIME. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR WAS IN A CL65RJ. THE ACR HAS BEEN HAVING SOME PROBS WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELDS CRACKING, USUALLY THE INNER PANE OF THE 3 PANES WITHIN THE WINDOW. THE RPTR KNOWS OF 3 OTHER EVENTS OF THE SAME NATURE, WITH ALL CRACKING IN THE INNER PANE. THE CAPT SAID IT WAS A 'DELAMINATION OF THE INNER PANE.' IT USUALLY STARTS AS A MINOR CRACK PRIOR TO ITS FAILING. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS INDICATION IN THIS EVENT. HE SAID THAT HIS COMPANY, THE FAA, AND ACFT MANUFACTURER ARE WORKING WITH THE WINDOW MANUFACTURER TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE SOLUTION IS 'IN THE MILL' AND HE DOESN'T KNOW THE STATUS OF THE FIX.

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.