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Both forward windshields on an EMB145 shattered during rotation for takeoff. An emergency was declared and the aircraft returned to the departure airport after delayed ATC vectors in moderate to severe turbulence.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 995624 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201202 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Takeoff |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Cockpit Window |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying First Officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
During takeoff (rotation); both windscreens shattered. We were able to see out of both sides. We climbed straight ahead and notified ATC of the malfunction and stated our intentions to return to the departure airport. We requested vectors back around to give us time to run the QRH; send the diversion report; ACARS dispatch; run checklists; [alert] the flight attendant; notify passengers; etc. We did declare an emergency. Once we were ready; we let ATC know and we were vectored for a visual approach to the runway. We were experiencing moderate turbulence due to high winds in the area so I decided to land overweight so as not to stay airborne any longer than we needed to. We landed on the runway (smooth touchdown 200 FPM) with no further problems and taxied to gate. Called maintenance and wrote up the defects and overweight landing. We swapped aircraft and did our turn with no problems. Both the first officer and flight attendant did an excellent job during the event. [We had] slight vision impairment due to shattered windscreens [also] gusty conditions on the ground and turbulent in-flight conditions. I have never seen both windscreens shatter like that before.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Both forward windshields on an EMB145 shattered during rotation for takeoff. An emergency was declared and the aircraft returned to the departure airport after delayed ATC vectors in moderate to severe turbulence.
Narrative: During takeoff (rotation); both windscreens shattered. We were able to see out of both sides. We climbed straight ahead and notified ATC of the malfunction and stated our intentions to return to the departure airport. We requested vectors back around to give us time to run the QRH; send the diversion report; ACARS Dispatch; run checklists; [alert] the Flight Attendant; notify passengers; etc. We did declare an emergency. Once we were ready; we let ATC know and we were vectored for a visual approach to the runway. We were experiencing moderate turbulence due to high winds in the area so I decided to land overweight so as not to stay airborne any longer than we needed to. We landed on the runway (smooth touchdown 200 FPM) with no further problems and taxied to gate. Called Maintenance and wrote up the defects and overweight landing. We swapped aircraft and did our turn with no problems. Both the First Officer and Flight Attendant did an excellent job during the event. [We had] slight vision impairment due to shattered windscreens [also] gusty conditions on the ground and turbulent in-flight conditions. I have never seen both windscreens shatter like that before.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.