background
x
loader
Troubleshooting
arrow By ATA By Message Color By Observed Faults By CAIMS By Tips

Select color for CAS message that you wish to troubleshoot

(WARNING)
RED MESSAGE (CAUTION)
AMBER MESSAGE (ADVISORY)
CYAN MESSAGE (STATUS)
WHITE MESSAGE Require immediate crew attention. These messages are accompanied by flashing master warning, triple chime attenson with or without voice message or dedicated tone. Require immediate crew awareness and future crew action may be required in the form of alternate system selection or performance limitation. These message are accompanied by flashing master caution and a single chime. Indicate safe or normal system operation which require crew awareness, over and above the dark cockpit philosophy. Indicate minor failures or reduction in systems capability, which require no crew action.

For AOG assistance contact:

CRC Montreal (YUL)
Quick Links

05/14/25

Windshield and Side Window Crack Identification

System: Windows
System Description: 56-10-00 - Flight Compartment
Schematic Diagram: None
Wiring Diagram: None

Advisory Wire:

  • AW700-56-0932 - Windshield Care and Troubleshooting
  • AW700-56-0663 - Windshield Delamination Criteria for a Pro-Active Replacement

Full Throttle Blog/Forum Articles/Infoservice/Newsletter:

Whether it be in flight or on the ground, there is never a good time to experience a cracked windshield event.

Cracks occur primarily in the outer glass ply or the faceply of Global windshields. Most cracks are attributed to FOD.

The faceply is a 0.090 thick thermally tempered glass and is not a structural element. This means that it is not subject to structural loading in flight. Its primary function is to transfer heat from the heater coating located on its lower surface, to the outer surface.

In addition to the faceply, the windshield also consists of two main structural plies. Together, they constitute the main structural fail-safe elements of the window and carry structural and pressurization loading. The window is designed that if a mainply failed, the second ply is strong enough to maintain complete structural integrity of the fuselage. It is extremely rare that a mainply would crack or sustain major damage.

windshield_cross_section
Windshield Cross Section


The following information is supplied to assist flight crews and maintenance technicians to characterize a windshield faceply crack and a mainply crack. See reference pictures below.

Faceply Crack

WARNING - Use cut proof gloves to prevent against splintering.

Visual characteristics:

  • Dense crack fracture pattern across the entire window. Lots of branching or forking. Origin usually in the center and distinguished by a "cats eyes" pattern.
  • A "race track" crack pattern around the periphery of the window.
  • Crack branching is narrow.
  • Crack can only be felt on the outside.

Mainply Crack

  • Visual characteristics - A single broad crack across the window from adjacent or opposite edges.

Technical Manual References
Rain and Ice Protection. Windshield or Window Damage. FCOM1 Chapter 5, Non-Normal Procedures
ICE – Non-EICAS Procedures – Windshield and Window Damage QRH2 Chapter 12
Pilot/Copilot Glass Faceply-Windshield Faceply Repair SRM Chapter 56-10-00
Operation with Cracked Windshield Faceply AFM 96 Chapter 07, Supplement 33

faceply_crack_cats_eyes
Faceply Crack - Cats Eye

faceply_crack_race_track
Faceply Crack - Race Track

mainply_crack_1
Mainply Crack

mainply_crack_2
Mainply Crack

Registered and/or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. © 2015 Bombardier Inc. All rights reserved.