Foxbat forced down due failed windscreen • Arkansas • Aug '25

[Garfly]

 

 

 

 

The pilot posted this in the comments in a follow up video:

@the_aeropraktician

1 day ago (edited)

'Reason was largely unknown. There was an SB on the older windscreens where they had to be inspected for cracks around the rivet holes. This one had been inspected with no anomaly’s found. It’s always part of my preflight when I clean it as well. The US Importer for Aeroprakt , Andy, who I know and respect greatly reached out Saturday evening after the event and mentioned he was going to be in contact with the factory on Monday, which he did. Aeroprakt made the SB a mandatory replacement to a thicker upgraded windscreen on Monday after our incident. Hopefully the SB being a mandatory replacement will save a life."

 

 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 12:08 PM by Garfly

[Thruster88]

From the Aeroprakt factory: 

Dear Aeroprakt aircraft owners,

We have encountered a problem with the durability of the windshields on the A22 and A32 aircraft. Until the beginning of 2022, we installed 2 mm thick PETG glass and 3 mm thick acrylic glass on the above-mentioned models, the material of which turned out to be short-lived and sensitive to cracking, which led to three cases of windshield failure this year, which fortunately did not lead to fatal consequences. In the coming days, we will issue a safety bulletin, where we will describe the need for mandatory replacement of windshields and the serial numbers of the aircraft affected by this bulletin. Vne will be temporarily limited to 140 km/h (75 knots) until the windshield is replaced.
Aircraft with a production date after January 22, on which windshields made of the new material are installed and on which the windshield was replaced after this date, do not have such problems and the speed limit does not apply to them.
For our part, we will try to provide our dealers with new windshields as soon as possible.

Best regards,
Aeroprakt team

[Blueadventures]

1 hour ago, Thruster88 said:

From the Aeroprakt factory: 

Dear Aeroprakt aircraft owners,

We have encountered a problem with the durability of the windshields on the A22 and A32 aircraft. Until the beginning of 2022, we installed 2 mm thick PETG glass and 3 mm thick acrylic glass on the above-mentioned models, the material of which turned out to be short-lived and sensitive to cracking, which led to three cases of windshield failure this year, which fortunately did not lead to fatal consequences. In the coming days, we will issue a safety bulletin, where we will describe the need for mandatory replacement of windshields and the serial numbers of the aircraft affected by this bulletin. Vne will be temporarily limited to 140 km/h (75 knots) until the windshield is replaced.
Aircraft with a production date after January 22, on which windshields made of the new material are installed and on which the windshield was replaced after this date, do not have such problems and the speed limit does not apply to them.
For our part, we will try to provide our dealers with new windshields as soon as possible.

Best regards,
Aeroprakt team

What is the issue date.  Thanks.

[Thruster88]

39 minutes ago, Blueadventures said:

What is the issue date.  Thanks.

Saw that on Facebook from foxbat australia, dated 6 days ago, not sure if a factory SB has been issued yet.

[IBob]

We had one of those in NZ a few years back: same thing, screen let go and doors immediately blew off. He was less fortunate and then pitched over on landing.

[johnm]

So per the video ......... if the windscreen dissapears - then altitude cannot be maintained ? 

 

or is that a 'trade off' to save the side doors ?

 

or some other form of trade off ?

 

(don't know) 

Edited yesterday at 05:33 AM by johnm

[IBob]

https://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=1615FC4A-7175-4D37-8CAE-2DA78E64A857

[Garfly]

7 minutes ago, johnm said:

So per the video ......... if the windscreen dissapears - then altitude cannot be maintained ? 

or is that a 'trade off' to save the side doors ?

or some other form of trade off ?

(don't know) 

 

That issue was discussed a bit in the Comments of the follow up video

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FDI1Q4Z5pY&t=332s

 

 

@Cornstalker7273

Kind of hard to imagine that the plane would not climb with no windshield  ... //

 

It wasn’t just a windshield, both doors were gone. It was aerodynamically as dirty as it could possibly get. If I could have held the beans to it I might could have climbed a little or maintained but the prop wash was so severe it was almost impossible to deal with it. I had to clear a ridge to get to the nearest airport. Never pass up a decent landing site in your search for something better. Sometimes better ain’t ahead of you. My options if the gamble to forge on didn’t pan out were not acceptable.

 

[facthunter]

It's about a LOT of disturbed  airflow associated with high drag and control difficulties  PLUS a blast of  fierce propwash in your face. No Way would you want to fly it.. Nev

[johnm]

top hinged doors on the A22 / 32

 

front hinged doors might fair better ?

[facthunter]

Just look after the windscreen. On some planes it's part of the structural integrity. A Foxbat is also "thin tin" for rivets. Nev

[IBob]

The Foxbat does not use the firewall-to-wingroots steelwork to support the screen. The screen is held/supported only at top, bottom and sides. I think that's the case?

[Blueadventures]

A friend of mine experienced a windscreen failure of a A32 Vixxen just after takeoff at Shuteharbour airstrip a few years back. He was not the PIC at the time but soon took command due to his experience.  He has viewed the video as I told him about it and he is not a member and gave permission to post his account. He advises that they couldn't talk to each other because thier headsets were gone down the back ... inside fortunately, but way out of reach. His GoPro went with them. The Windscreen both sides was gone - fortunately without carving them up. After the initial shock, it became clear they would survive. Controls were ok. The big bang occurred just after takeoff 14. So there we were - 500 feet, 5600 rpm, 70kt ias. The vis was good but they had to return the long way left circuit around Pioneer Point. Both doors were doing their best to open, but didn't. That was one of his biggest concerns actually because he did not know how open doors would affect IAS. They had lifejackets on, but not a great place to go swimming. He had to watch the doors venting 70kts of airflow through gaps all the way around the longest circuit I ever flew. To avoid traffic, we hugged the coastline all the way back to a very short final 14. The air was full of Cessna Caravans (tour operators) but we could not communicate with anybody. My eyeballs were working overtime. After landing the local mechanic greeted us with "wow, and he thought that was the cleanest windscreen I'd ever seen". Hah, anyway all's well that ends well ... and something to chat about over a beer in the bar. 

Edited yesterday at 08:50 AM by Blueadventures

[IBob]

I guess if it happens at cruise speed, it's more likely to blow the doors off.

[Blueadventures]

10 minutes ago, IBob said:

I guess if it happens at cruise speed, it's more likely to blow the doors off.

I have been doing annuals and other maintenance on two A32's for a few years now (one is the one mentioned above and started post the incident) I  believe they could do with a positive locking method added to the area at or near the forward most point of the door as the door closes into a form or recess and a positive mechanical locking method would be a good upgrade.  Just my opinion.

Edited yesterday at 09:13 AM by Blueadventures

[pmccarthy]

My A22 had a very soft windscreen that you could flex with your finger. My A32 has a hard windscreen, feels solid like on a Piper or Cessna.