Pilot Debrief

Boeing B757-200 near West Palm Beach, FL — 2008-01-31

Final reportENG08IA011
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Date
2008-01-31
Location
West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Aircraft
Boeing B757-200
Registration
N624AA
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

the arcing of the windshield heat system at the upper, aft (J1) and upper, forward (J4) terminal locations on the first officer's windshield, which caused the inner pane of glass to fracture.

NTSB narrative

During cruise flight the crew experienced smoke in the cockpit, none of it coming from an obvious place, followed by the fracture of the inner pane of the first officer's windshield. They declared an emergency and diverted the airplane to a local airport where an uneventful landing was made. Examination of the widow revealed evidence of arcing at the upper, aft (J1) and upper, forward (J4) windshield heat terminal locations and inner pane fracture initiation beneath the upper, forward (J4) terminal block. The initiation point for the arcing at both terminal locations could not be identified due to the damage sustained.

NTSB coding

  • Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) · Enroute-cruise
View NTSB final report

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