A B737-700 first officer reported the captain's windshield cracked and delaminated climbing out of F...

Narrative:

I was pilot flying on departure. Passing 18;000 ft; the captain's side of the windshield cracked suddenly accompanied by a snapping noise. The captain took control of the aircraft; stopped the climb; directed me to request an immediate descent from center with a turn back to [departure airport]; and to declare an emergency. We received an immediate descent and vector from the center direct [departure airport]. The spider cracks and delamination continued to expand as we made the turn and there was significant electrical arcing on the windshield. We shut off the windshield heat which was effective in stopping the arcing. Appropriate emergency and normal checklists were accomplished. Flight attendants and passengers were notified of the event and that we were returning to [departure airport]. Operations planning; FMC reprogramming; and avionics setup for the visual approach were accomplished. The controlling agencies were helpful in making room for the descent since we were so close to the field and had slowed the aircraft down. Eventually we passed souls on board and fuel once the emergency procedures were accomplished. Stable approach and landing accomplished by the captain followed with uneventful taxi to the gate. A walk-around was accomplished and nothing was out of the ordinary; other than the windshield.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 First Officer reported the Captain's windshield cracked and delaminated climbing out of FL180. An emergency was declared a safe return to the departure airport was accomplished.

Narrative: I was pilot flying on departure. Passing 18;000 FT; the Captain's side of the windshield cracked suddenly accompanied by a snapping noise. The Captain took control of the aircraft; stopped the climb; directed me to request an immediate descent from Center with a turn back to [departure airport]; and to declare an emergency. We received an immediate descent and vector from the Center direct [departure airport]. The spider cracks and delamination continued to expand as we made the turn and there was significant electrical arcing on the windshield. We shut off the windshield heat which was effective in stopping the arcing. Appropriate emergency and normal checklists were accomplished. Flight attendants and passengers were notified of the event and that we were returning to [departure airport]. Operations planning; FMC reprogramming; and avionics setup for the visual approach were accomplished. The controlling agencies were helpful in making room for the descent since we were so close to the field and had slowed the aircraft down. Eventually we passed souls on board and fuel once the emergency procedures were accomplished. Stable approach and landing accomplished by the Captain followed with uneventful taxi to the gate. A walk-around was accomplished and nothing was out of the ordinary; other than the windshield.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	990410
Time
Date	201201
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Cockpit Window
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 196
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

A B737-700 first officer reported the captain's windshield cracked and delaminated climbing out of FL180. An emergency was declared a safe return to the departure airport was accomplished.