Cracked Window

[TDK90]

Got a crack in the pilot side window (from the edge of the storm vent to the base) yesterday in our twin-cessna. Caused a bit of excitment but we were fairly low so no real problem. My question is, can I fly it unpressurized in that condition until the next maintenance opportunity, or is it a no go item under Pt 91. It's a small crack, that's airtight when the cabin is at ambient pressure.

 

[Kingairrick]

Look in the AFM. Limitations section. King Airs can go 25 hours depending on which layer is cracked, Falcon 50 limited to 7.5 max cabin diff...so it depends on the a/c.
Hope it helps.

 

[dhc8fo]

The 340 AFM says that "if an airplane must be flown with a cracked windshield, DO NOT PRESSURIZE the cabin."

Maybe you can stop drill it to make it until the next maintenance (then dab in a little clear silicon). Sounds stupid, but if you can do it to a small Piper, why not a Cessna? Since you can't pressurize it, the flying won't be much different and it will stop it from growing. Call your mechanic and ask.

 

[groundpointsix]

The 340 AFM says that "if an airplane must be flown with a cracked windshield, DO NOT PRESSURIZE the cabin."

Maybe you can stop drill it to make it until the next maintenance (then dab in a little clear silicon). Sounds stupid, but if you can do it to a small Piper, why not a Cessna? Since you can't pressurize it, the flying won't be much different and it will stop it from growing. Call your mechanic and ask.

Is stop drilling even an approved procedure for fixing windshields in a pressurized airplane? I could see it maybe being a temporary fix if you're not going to pressurize the cabin to keep the crack from spreading but pressurizing it seems like a bad idea to me. Is this a normal procedure for windshields? I've only seen it done on plastic fairings. Any A&P want to comment?

 

[dhc8fo]

I am not an A&P, but the AFM says to NOT pressurize the plane with a cracked windshield. That is why I suggested the stop drilling.

I know that it is an acceptable practice in 91 because my own plane had a few places in the side window that were stop drilled. It is ugly and stupid looking, but it works. I replaced all the acrylic eventually and low and behold, another small crack begins...

I wouldn't recommend it if you plan to pressurize, but then again, I would follow the AFM and NOT pressurize until I got it fixed.

 

[aeolian]

Got a crack in the pilot side window (from the edge of the storm vent to the base) yesterday in our twin-cessna. Caused a bit of excitment but we were fairly low so no real problem. My question is, can I fly it unpressurized in that condition until the next maintenance opportunity, or is it a no go item under Pt 91. It's a small crack, that's airtight when the cabin is at ambient pressure.

Reminds me of one of those moments when I learned something. At FL 310 westbound, the outer layer splintered into a mosaic each piece no larger than a fingernail. What a noise it made! I was immersed in updating jepps. Four revisions spread neatly around the cockpit in an orderly fashion so as to insure no mistakes. But when that windscreen popped...look out! Jepps all over the place. Maybe best to do those things elsewhere.