SDR 2023F00254

Service difficulty report · Windscreen · Lear 45LEAR

Difficulty date
August 18, 2023
Submitted
August 18, 2023
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N35LH
Make and model
Lear 45LEAR
Aircraft serial
452116
Aircraft time
7,536 hours, 5,113 cycles
Part
Windscreen
Part number
UNKNOWN
Condition
Cracked
Location
Cockpit
Part time
7,536 hours, 5,113 cycles
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
P
Precautionary procedure
I

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

ON DEPARTURE OUT OF KBKL ENROUTE TO KDET, WHILE PASSING 10,000' MSL THERE WAS A LOUD, SUDDEN AND SINGLE AUDIBLE POPPING SOUND SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE SHATTERING OF THE LEFT COCKPIT WINDSCREEN. THE ASCENT WAS QUICKLY STOPPED AND A DESCENT AND AN IMMEDIATE DIVERT BACK TO KBKL WAS INITIATED. DESPITE THE SHATTERING THE VISIBILITY WAS STILL GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE CAPTAIN IN THE LEFT SEAT TO FLY THE APPROACH AND LANDING. THIS ACTION WAS TAKEN AS THE CO-PILOTS PROFICIENCY IN LANDING WAS VERY LOW AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEAVY WEIGHT WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS AT THE AIRFIELD AND THERE WAS PASSENGERS ABOARD AT THE TIME. THE LANDING, TAXI BACK AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WERE ALL UNEVENTFUL WITH NEVER A LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE OR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE WINDSCREEN.