# NTSB CEN21LA132: Beech B100, N312MB, Lubbock, TX, February 18, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 17, 2021, 21:30 local (Feb 18, 2021, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Lubbock, TX - Coordinates: 33.566281, -101.87793 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5663&lon=-101.8779&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102650 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102650/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102650 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA132 ## Probable cause The failure of the right-side window inner pane for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Windows-windshield system: flight compartment windows](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610/cases.md?model=1152919), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech B100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1152919), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis About an hour after departure, while the airplane was in cruise flight, the pilot and passenger heard a “cracking noise” and noticed that the right windshield had cracked. The windshield remained in place and pressurization was not lost. The pilot notified the air traffic controller that he had a cracked windshield and diverted to a nearby airport. The airplane landed uneventfully and examination revealed substantial cracking damage to the right-side windshield inner pane. The windshield was disposed of before further testing could be performed to determine the failure mode. ## Factual narrative On February 17, 2021, about 2130 central standard time, a Beech B100 airplane, N312MB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lubbock, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight. The pilot reported that about an hour after departure, while the airplane was in cruise flight, he heard a “cracking noise” and noticed that the right windshield had cracked. The windshield remained in place and pressurization was not lost. The pilot notified the air traffic controller that he had a cracked windshield. The flight then descended and diverted to a nearby airport, where it was discovered that the right-side windshield displayed cracks in the inner pane, which is considered substantial damage in a pressurized airplane. The pilot reported that the windshield had accumulated 3,152.3 flight hours and 2,235 cycles. The window manufacturer reported the windshield was manufactured in 1998 and that it had met its expected life cycle. The windshield was disposed of before further testing could be performed to determine the failure mode. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N312MB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N312MB), registered now, S/N BE-113, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH B100 - Registry model: [Beech B100](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b100) (registry code 1152919) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Garrett TPE331-6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/garrett-tpe331-6) (registry code 29046, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BE-113 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 8886.8 - Engines: GARRETT TPE331-6 750 horsepower turbo prop; GARRETT TPE331-6 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: N312mb LLC - Registered owner: N312mb LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 23, 2020 - Departed: KALM, Alamogordo, NM - Destination: KRBD, Dallas, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 25, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,700 total, 595 in this make and model, 3,900 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft broken - Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KLBB ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20210217000589I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210217000589I), Feb 17, 2021: Beech B100, Lubbock, TX, Minor damage. Window delaminated and shattered in flight. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102650. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12599321&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTST%20Incident%20Report%20N312MB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 193 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12599382&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.pdf - Ppg email (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 817 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12599331&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PPG%20email-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.