An A320 ECAM alerted anti ice left windshield (window) and later after sunset the window frosted ove...

Attributes
ACN	980164
Time
Date	201111
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Window Ice/Rain System
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 170 Flight Crew Total 16443 Flight Crew Type 990
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

We were in cruise enroute when we received an ECAM. The message said anti ice left windshield (window). The inoperative systems were left wshld heat (wndw) heat. This did not affect the windows in cruise during the daylight. However; after the sun set and during the descent; all three captain windows frosted completely over and there was absolutely zero visibility out of any of the captain's windows. Maintenance and dispatch were notified of the situation. I used my identification to scrape off the frost. Then I used paper towels to wipe off the remaining moisture with the heat of my hand. At about 500 ft AGL I was able to regain the visibility out of the forward window.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An A320 ECAM alerted ANTI ICE L WINDSHIELD (WINDOW) and later after sunset the window frosted over which required the Captain to remove the ice for forward visibility prior to landing.

Narrative: We were in cruise enroute when we received an ECAM. The message said ANTI ICE L WINDSHIELD (WINDOW). The INOP systems were L WSHLD HEAT (WNDW) HEAT. This did not affect the windows in cruise during the daylight. However; after the sun set and during the descent; all three captain windows frosted completely over and there was absolutely zero visibility out of any of the Captain's windows. Maintenance and Dispatch were notified of the situation. I used my ID to scrape off the frost. Then I used paper towels to wipe off the remaining moisture with the heat of my hand. At about 500 FT AGL I was able to regain the visibility out of the forward window.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

An A320 ECAM alerted anti ice left windshield (window) and later after sunset the window frosted over which required the captain to remove the ice for forward visibility prior to landing.