Service difficulty report · Windshield · Dhav DH82

Difficulty date
October 15, 2014
Submitted
March 12, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Dhav DH82
Engine
Pwa PW123
Propeller
Hamstd 14SF23
Part
Windshield
Part number
NP15790114
Condition
Cracked
Location
Cockpit
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) DURING CLIMB OUT (PASSING APPROX FL200), CREW NOTICED SMOKE FROM ABOVE THE DASHBOARD. THEY PROCEEDED WITH THE SMOKE MEMORY ITEMS AND DECIDED TO DIVERT TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. SHORTLY AFTER THE COMPLETING MEMORY ITEMS, A SPARKS ERUPTED FROM THE CO-PILOT MAIN WINDSHIELD HEATING ELEMENT. THERE WAS A SMALL BLAST AND SPARKS/FLAME INTENSIFIED. CREW USED FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO EXTINGUISH FLAME AND SWITCHED WINDSHIELD HEAT SWITCH FROM Ï¿½WARM UP TO OFF POSITION. THIS EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND CREW OPENED THE FORWARD OUTFLOW VALVE TO CLEAR THE COCKPIT SMOKE. AFTER PASSING APPROX 10,000 FT, THERE WAS A NOISE AND RH MAIN WINDSHIELD CRACKED INSTANTANEOUSLY. SOME SMALL GLASS PIECES FROM THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD HIT THE CO-PILOT. AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.