C560 suffers shattered outer windshield. Initial decision to divert is superseded by maintenance ass...

Attributes
ACN	763907
Time
Date	200712
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cha.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 40000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Citation Excel
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 95 flight time total : 4855 flight time type : 270
ASRS Report	763907
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : regained aircraft control none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

En route at FL400; the left side outer windshield shattered. Immediately we contacted center for descent and was cleared down to 11000 ft. We landed at the closest major airport which was chattanooga; tn. I contacted dispatch to alert them and to start making arrangements for another aircraft to take passenger to their final destination. I contacted chief pilot and was told to contact fleet manager and our company director of maintenance. While talking with fleet manager; I explained the situation and damage of the windshield. I was told that if there was no change in pressurization at time of crack then the 2 inner panels did not break -- only the outer; and the aircraft is capable of flying safely and that they have seen other excels fly with cracked windshield. In discussing this with fleet manager; and VFR conditions between the 35 min flight; I elected to fly the aircraft on to the fleet center at 11000 ft and for safety not to exceed 250 KTS. I failed to contact our company director of maintenance which would have told me I needed a ferry permit.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C560 SUFFERS SHATTERED OUTER WINDSHIELD. INITIAL DECISION TO DIVERT IS SUPERSEDED BY MAINT ASSURANCE THE ACFT WAS SAFE AND LEGAL TO PROCEED TO DESTINATION.

Narrative: ENRTE AT FL400; THE L SIDE OUTER WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. IMMEDIATELY WE CONTACTED CTR FOR DSCNT AND WAS CLRED DOWN TO 11000 FT. WE LANDED AT THE CLOSEST MAJOR ARPT WHICH WAS CHATTANOOGA; TN. I CONTACTED DISPATCH TO ALERT THEM AND TO START MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR ANOTHER ACFT TO TAKE PAX TO THEIR FINAL DEST. I CONTACTED CHIEF PLT AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT FLEET MGR AND OUR COMPANY DIRECTOR OF MAINT. WHILE TALKING WITH FLEET MGR; I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND DAMAGE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS TOLD THAT IF THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN PRESSURIZATION AT TIME OF CRACK THEN THE 2 INNER PANELS DID NOT BREAK -- ONLY THE OUTER; AND THE ACFT IS CAPABLE OF FLYING SAFELY AND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN OTHER EXCELS FLY WITH CRACKED WINDSHIELD. IN DISCUSSING THIS WITH FLEET MGR; AND VFR CONDITIONS BTWN THE 35 MIN FLT; I ELECTED TO FLY THE ACFT ON TO THE FLEET CTR AT 11000 FT AND FOR SAFETY NOT TO EXCEED 250 KTS. I FAILED TO CONTACT OUR COMPANY DIRECTOR OF MAINT WHICH WOULD HAVE TOLD ME I NEEDED A FERRY PERMIT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

C560 suffers shattered outer windshield. Initial decision to divert is superseded by maintenance assurance the aircraft was safe and legal to proceed to destination.