A B727-200 in cruise at FL330 diverted due to captain's left cockpit sliding window cracked with def...

Attributes
ACN	483483
Time
Date	200008
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	483483
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	other other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Environmental Factor Weather
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While at FL330, .80 mach, window L1 on captain's side cracked in numerous places. Cracks appeared to be limited to outer pane only. 1 crack may have been limited to middle pane. This deformation was spontaneous with a loud pop or snap sound. Immediately requested a 180 degree turn with houston ATC and descent to FL240 with speed reduction to 250 KIAS. Did not declare an emergency. Also, immediately removed window heat to L1, removed windshield vent air, put on shoulder harnesses and donned goggles as a precaution. Reviewed procedures in operations manual for cracked windshield continued descent to 16000 ft and 250 KIAS and reduced cabin differential pressure to aid in minimizing affect.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727-200 IN CRUISE AT FL330 DIVERTED DUE TO CAPT'S L COCKPIT SLIDING WINDOW CRACKED WITH DEFORMATION.

Narrative: WHILE AT FL330, .80 MACH, WINDOW L1 ON CAPT'S SIDE CRACKED IN NUMEROUS PLACES. CRACKS APPEARED TO BE LIMITED TO OUTER PANE ONLY. 1 CRACK MAY HAVE BEEN LIMITED TO MIDDLE PANE. THIS DEFORMATION WAS SPONTANEOUS WITH A LOUD POP OR SNAP SOUND. IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED A 180 DEG TURN WITH HOUSTON ATC AND DSCNT TO FL240 WITH SPD REDUCTION TO 250 KIAS. DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER. ALSO, IMMEDIATELY REMOVED WINDOW HEAT TO L1, REMOVED WINDSHIELD VENT AIR, PUT ON SHOULDER HARNESSES AND DONNED GOGGLES AS A PRECAUTION. REVIEWED PROCS IN OPS MANUAL FOR CRACKED WINDSHIELD CONTINUED DSCNT TO 16000 FT AND 250 KIAS AND REDUCED CABIN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TO AID IN MINIMIZING AFFECT.

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.

A B727-200 in cruise at FL330 diverted due to captain's left cockpit sliding window cracked with deformation.