What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Approximately 75 miles south of chicago, at 13,000 ft and a cruise speed of about 240 knots, the amatuer built airplanes pilot side window exploded outward leaving a margin of about 1/2" of glass around the window frame. The pilot declared an emergency and descended to 10,000 ft and asked for the nearest airport, which was Danville IL. He flew the plane to that location and landed without incident. There were no scratches or chips in the window prior to the failure. The aircraft was not experiencing turbulence at the time of the failure.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) APPROXIMATELY 75 MILES SOUTH OF CHICAGO, AT 13,000 FT AND A CRUISE SPEED OF ABOUT 240 KNOTS, THE AMATUER BUILT AIRPLANES PILOT SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED OUTWARD LEAVING A MARGIN OF ABOUT 1/2" OF GLASS AROUND THE WINDOW FRAME. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND DESCENDED TO 10,000 FT AND ASKED FOR THE NEAREST AIRPORT, WHICH WAS DANVILLE IL. HE FLEW THE PLANE TO THAT LOCATION AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO SCRATCHES OR CHIPS IN THE WINDOW PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING TURBULENCE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE.
Other reports on N848E · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.