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Citabria pilot reported the windshield shattered for unknown reasons.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1584246 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201810 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Aeronca Champion |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Descent Initial Approach |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Cockpit Window |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45 Flight Crew Total 127 Flight Crew Type 25 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown |
Narrative:
Just prior to pattern entry a violent windshield failure occurred. At the time of the failure; I was looking down to stow my ipad in the door pocket; which protected my face from the debris. 90% of the windscreen imploded into me and out the left side of the aircraft; taking my hat and headset off. The resulting pressure through the fuselage blew out the left rear window as well. Compass; sunshades; and all other loose items in aircraft departed out the opening. The debris hit left wing and left horizontal tail leading edges; causing some fabric damage. Was able to retrieve headset; make one radio call; and land otherwise normally. Unsure if bird strike; or another object; or if windshield failed on its own accord. Fortunately/unfortunately; I happened to be looking down at the moment of its failure; so I have no idea whether something hit my aircraft or not. There is no physical evidence of a bird; and no parts of a drone or other object. Colleagues of my father (all in aviation) believe it to have been a strike of some kind; as they haven't seen an unprovoked windscreen failure like this before. No injuries; no witness to the moment of incident other than myself.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Citabria pilot reported the windshield shattered for unknown reasons.
Narrative: Just prior to pattern entry a violent windshield failure occurred. At the time of the failure; I was looking down to stow my iPad in the door pocket; which protected my face from the debris. 90% of the windscreen imploded into me and out the left side of the aircraft; taking my hat and headset off. The resulting pressure through the fuselage blew out the left rear window as well. Compass; sunshades; and all other loose items in aircraft departed out the opening. The debris hit left wing and left horizontal tail leading edges; causing some fabric damage. Was able to retrieve headset; make one radio call; and land otherwise normally. Unsure if bird strike; or another object; or if windshield failed on its own accord. Fortunately/unfortunately; I happened to be looking down at the moment of its failure; so I have no idea whether something hit my aircraft or not. There is no physical evidence of a bird; and no parts of a drone or other object. Colleagues of my father (all in aviation) believe it to have been a strike of some kind; as they haven't seen an unprovoked windscreen failure like this before. No injuries; no witness to the moment of incident other than myself.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.