# Incident 20240721014539I: Atr 42-500, Nassau, BH, July 21, 2024

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2024, 09:48 local time
- Place: Nassau, BH
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Foreign air carrier (Part 129)
- Operator: BHLF
- Aircraft: NONE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ATR 42-500
- People aboard: 44
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Unknown or foreign certificate
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240721014539I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE FIRST OFFICER’S MAIN WINDSHIELD SUFFERED MASSIVE CRACKING DURING CRUISE AT 16,000 FT. THE CREW REQUESTED EMERGENCY DESCENT FOLLOWING THE FAILURE WHICH MIA ARTCC COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY APPROVE. THE CAPTAIN INSISTED ON IMMEDIATE DESCENT GIVING HIS REASON. THE CAPTAIN STATED THAT A DESCENT WAS INITIATED PRIOR TO RECEIVING ATC CLEARANCE DUE TO HIS PERCEIVED URGENCY OF THE SITUATION AND DESIRE TO REDUCE THE DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE WITHOUT DELAY. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKING, WHICH SHOWED UP AS SEVERE IN A PHOTO, CAUSED THE CO-PILOT MUCH ANXIETY AS CONVEYED TO THE CAPTAIN VERBALLY. DURING THE DEBRIEFING, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REMINDED THE CAPTAIN THAT THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD CHECKLIST CONTAINS NO MEMORY ITEMS, NOR RECOMMENDS IMMEDIATE DESCENT. THE CAPTAIN BEING RELATIVELY NEW TO THE POSITION AND THE VISUAL IMPACT OF THE EVENT PLUS THE UNEASE OF THE FIRST OFFICER WERE ALL CONTRIBUTORS TO THE ACTIONS TAKEN.

UPON ARRIVAL AT MYNN, THE AIRCRAFT WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE AND THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. THE WINDOW HEAT CONTROLLER WAS ALSO REPLACED. REQUIRED LOGBOOK ENTRIES WERE ACCOMPLISHED. THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT NOR WERE ANY PASSENGERS INJURED OR AFFECTED IN ANY OTHER WAY. THERE WAS NO HISTORY OF REPORTS RELATED TO THE WINDSHIELD OR RECORDED DELAMINATION, ETC. PRIOR TO THE EVENT.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ CONDUCTED ADDITIONAL TRAINING ON THE CAPTAIN AND FIRST OFFICER TO PROVIDE REINFORCEMENT OF CAA-BAHAMAS REGULATIONS AND COMPANY REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO THE WINDSHIELD CRACK EVENT. FLIGHT CREW GROUND TRAINING RECORDS WERE REVIEWED BY THE FAA AND THE CAA-BAHAMAS. CAA-BAHAMAS HAS ACCEPTED THE TRAINING AND COMPANY MITIGATION EFFORTS. FAA INVESTIGATION COMPLETED.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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