Narrative:

During the initial descend we were given a clearance to cross an intersection at a specific altitude and 250 KTS. My airspeed during the descend was already close to 250 KTS. As we were descending; I heard a noise coming from the captain side window. When I looked in the direction of the noise; I noticed that the captain's side window was shattered. I pointed at the window; and when the captain saw it he transferred the radios to me. I was acting as the pilot flying at the time. I started to operate the radios while the captain was talking to dispatch and maintenance. A moment later; ATC called and instructed me to increase the airspeed to 300 KTS or better. I replied that we were having a maintenance difficulty and that I would like to request to maintain present airspeed. Before I get an answer from ATC; the captain stopped his conversation with commercial radio; I believe; and asked me what happened. I told him about ATC's request and about my response and he replied that we could do better than 250. I communicated that information to ATC and we were assigned 270 KTS instead of the original 300 KTS. The captain finished his conversation with ATC; and we performed the QRH. The captain returned to operate the radios and requested ATC to slow down as the QRH indicated. ATC approved the request and began to give us vectors for the runway. We were very busy during the descend and approach phase of the flight and landed on the runway uneventfully. During our final approach we noticed flocks of birds in the vicinity of the airport; but we didn't see any birds nor any indication of bird-strike at the time the side window had shattered. I don't know the cause of the shattered side window; so I have no suggestions to make at this time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CRJ100 Captain's side window shattered in the descent. The QRH was complied with prior to a normal approach and landing.

Narrative: During the initial descend we were given a clearance to cross an intersection at a specific altitude and 250 KTS. My airspeed during the descend was already close to 250 KTS. As we were descending; I heard a noise coming from the Captain side window. When I looked in the direction of the noise; I noticed that the Captain's side window was shattered. I pointed at the window; and when the Captain saw it he transferred the radios to me. I was acting as the pilot flying at the time. I started to operate the radios while the Captain was talking to Dispatch and Maintenance. A moment later; ATC called and instructed me to increase the airspeed to 300 KTS or better. I replied that we were having a maintenance difficulty and that I would like to request to maintain present airspeed. Before I get an answer from ATC; the Captain stopped his conversation with Commercial Radio; I believe; and asked me what happened. I told him about ATC's request and about my response and he replied that we could do better than 250. I communicated that information to ATC and we were assigned 270 KTS instead of the original 300 KTS. The Captain finished his conversation with ATC; and we performed the QRH. The Captain returned to operate the radios and requested ATC to slow down as the QRH indicated. ATC approved the request and began to give us vectors for the runway. We were very busy during the descend and approach phase of the flight and landed on the runway uneventfully. During our final approach we noticed flocks of birds in the vicinity of the airport; but we didn't see any birds nor any indication of bird-strike at the time the side window had shattered. I don't know the cause of the shattered side window; so I have no suggestions to make at this time.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.