Small aircraft aircraft cockpit window fell off aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	414868
Time
Date	199809
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : 3pso airport : 3ps0
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 6800 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	414868
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

After refueling at chester county airport, I was returning to the photo site. As I was opening the aircraft window, the front hinge failed and the window partially separated from the aircraft. As I tried to pull the window back into place, the force of the air pulled the frame outwards and the rear hinge failed. I circled the area for approximately 1 1/2 mins and observed the window fall into a large open field (approximately 150 acres). There was no risk to any people or animals on the ground, and no one was injured by the window. Due to the location and size of the field, I have (so far) been unable to locate the frame and window, but the farm is aware that it is on their property.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ACFT COCKPIT WINDOW FELL OFF ACFT.

Narrative: AFTER REFUELING AT CHESTER COUNTY ARPT, I WAS RETURNING TO THE PHOTO SITE. AS I WAS OPENING THE ACFT WINDOW, THE FRONT HINGE FAILED AND THE WINDOW PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. AS I TRIED TO PULL THE WINDOW BACK INTO PLACE, THE FORCE OF THE AIR PULLED THE FRAME OUTWARDS AND THE REAR HINGE FAILED. I CIRCLED THE AREA FOR APPROX 1 1/2 MINS AND OBSERVED THE WINDOW FALL INTO A LARGE OPEN FIELD (APPROX 150 ACRES). THERE WAS NO RISK TO ANY PEOPLE OR ANIMALS ON THE GND, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED BY THE WINDOW. DUE TO THE LOCATION AND SIZE OF THE FIELD, I HAVE (SO FAR) BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FRAME AND WINDOW, BUT THE FARM IS AWARE THAT IT IS ON THEIR PROPERTY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.