Wind shield cracks

[cole505]

Hi Ed,

Sounds good! Ready to assist once your ready ✈️🇺🇸👍🏻😊✅

Ray & Lucy ✈️🇺🇸👍🏻😊✅
LSRM

[ergo1]

Mar 16, 2022 12:22:13 GMT Ed Midgley said:

Thanks Cole
I’m looking into an alternative sealant. I also found the 3M product difficult to use.
I’ll be in touch when I get the new windshield.
Ed

Hi Ed
My P2008 windshield cracked while sitting in the sun. I have serial #81. The crack is identical to the pictures David Ober posted about a year ago. I wondered if you have any of your newly improved windshields for sale? What does it cost? And, is there a special process for installing your windshields - tooling, sealant, ect.
Thank you
Eric

[DavidOber]

Hi Eric,

The good news is that I had it stop-drilled and the crack has not spread. I think mine was temperature related too. Also, Tecnam sent me a free replacement windshield. It is still in my attic. The major cost would be labor and not the shield (Tecnam doesnt cover that).

Good Luck.

David


I went through Josh at Tecnam:

Joshua S. Noel

Director of Maintenance Tecnam US
Customer Support, Tecnam US

29536 Flying Fortress Lane Suite 1
Sebring, FL 33870
Phone: [phone]
Cell: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
www.tecnam.com

[Ed Midgley]

The Polycarbonate windshields aren’t ready yet mainly because Tecnam sent a 2010 windshield to the manufacturer to make the mold I had no knowledge of this until the made it. They now have the correct windshield to copy.
The new polycarbonate windshield will cost about $1,250.00 each.
My first windshield was supposed to cost me 10K but, because of the mixup I’ll have over 20K in it.
It is what it is.
Ed

[Glenn]

Jun 29, 2022 22:48:16 GMT Ed Midgley said:

The Polycarbonate windshields aren’t ready yet mainly because Tecnam sent a 2010 windshield to the manufacturer to make the mold I had no knowledge of this until the made it. They now have the correct windshield to copy.
The new polycarbonate windshield will cost about $1,250.00 each.
My first windshield was supposed to cost me 10K but, because of the mixup I’ll have over 20K in it.
It is what it is.
Ed

Ed,


Thanks for what you're doing. I don't need a replacement windshield and hope I never do.

I have to give you a big ATTABOY anyway. And look on the bright side. You've got windshields for the P2008 and the P2010!

And Tecnam gets a failing grade for not doing what you are doing. They know there's a real issue and apparently don't care.

THANKS

[Ed Midgley]

I think their in the business of sailing planes and prefer not to hear bad news.
I guess I’m getting old as I skipped Anger and Denial and went straight to acceptance!
Ed

[cole505]

Jun 29, 2022 23:08:04 GMT Glenn said:

Jun 29, 2022 22:48:16 GMT Ed Midgley said:

The Polycarbonate windshields aren’t ready yet mainly because Tecnam sent a 2010 windshield to the manufacturer to make the mold I had no knowledge of this until the made it. They now have the correct windshield to copy.
The new polycarbonate windshield will cost about $1,250.00 each.
My first windshield was supposed to cost me 10K but, because of the mixup I’ll have over 20K in it.
It is what it is.
Ed

Ed,


Thanks for what you're doing. I don't need a replacement windshield and hope I never do.

I have to give you a big ATTABOY anyway. And look on the bright side. You've got windshields for the P2008 and the P2010!

And Tecnam gets a failing grade for not doing what you are doing. They know there's a real issue and apparently don't care.

THANKS

Hi Glen,

I could not have stated it any better! It’s mind boggling like you said that Tecnam “CLEARLY” knows they are producing a windshield that does not with stand temperature spikes or structural load spikes.

Have to say it was really one of the worst Aviation in flight experiences in 40 years that I ever had, having a windshield crack at 10500 ft 1/2 inch wide with 25 degree air hitting me square in the face is indescribable!  

Ed is amazing with his fix to this long time issue! Glen Like you said! We now have polycarbonate windshields that will never crack for the P-2008 & The P-2010 thanks to Ed’s research and financial investment Very Nicely done Ed! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🫡🫡🇺🇸

Ray & Lucy 🫡✈️✅🇺🇸😊⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  
LSRM

[cole505]

Hi All,

Thought I would bring this picture from an older post that I made years ago to this current post as a reminder of how these windshields are ‘CLearly’ not made properly or from the correct materials! 

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CLICK ON THIS PICTURE! This way you can see it up close and personal.Tecnam said they could not see any defects from this picture and believe me I sent several different angles and they still said they could not make out what type of problem there was? And kept asking for more pictures to see more clearly what the problem is or was! Yikes!

I am wondering if any of you have any problems making out what was wrong in this picture?

Ray & Lucy 🇺🇸
LSRM 

[Ed Midgley]

I was starting my plane on a cold morning when “Bang” and it broke.
I will post when I get the first polycarbonate windshield.
If anyone is interested their website is https/www.racing shields.com
Ed

[cole505]

Jun 30, 2022 11:59:36 GMT Ed Midgley said:

I was starting my plane on a cold morning when “Bang” and it broke.
I will post when I get the first polycarbonate windshield.
If anyone is interested their website is https/www.racing shields.com
Ed

I Ed,

Excited to see the new Polycarbonate windshield! So glad you had the new one made! I wonder if Tecnam will Issue an LOA for us to install the new poly Windshields as needed and maybe take interest in the fact that you came up with a Fix for this long time Issue……. VERY NICE WORK! THANKS 🙏  FOR YOUR TIME AND INVESTMENT 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊✈️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ray & Lucy 
LSRM 🇺🇸

[ergo1]

 I called Tecnam this morning about my windshield issue and was routed to the parts department. In having a friendly conversation with the nice lady in the parts department, her first question about the windshield was - did I have my plane sitting in the sun - even she chuckled at her question. When I told her yes my plane was sitting in the sun, she suggested the plane should have a fuselage cover to help prevent this event from happening in the future. Although she quickly added that the cover might not do the job of protecting the window. Anyway bottom line - the P2008 window is a bust - figuratively and literally.

Here's my take on this issue. I believe that my windshield cracked because of a thermal event. I normally leave my side window air inlets open a bit for air flow. Over the last week or so, I had them closed. Given the light construction of the windshield, I believe that the sun heated the glare shield and ultimately the hot air cracked the windshield. In the future, I will leave my air inlets open when I have the plane sitting outside. BTW, I also use a reflective sunshield for the windshield which wasn't installed over the period that the plane sat outside and the windshield cracked.

As for our fellow Tecnam owner going the extra mile and getting a better windshield fabricated, all I can say is THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I am happy to contribute some money to your fabrication costs for the windshield. Ed - please let me know how to make this happen.

Eric Goldfine

[ChiMike]

Is Tecnam going to warranty the windshield?

[ergo1]

Jun 30, 2022 18:33:24 GMT ChiMike said:

Is Tecnam going to warranty the windshield?

Hi ChiMike
I was suppose to receive a call from Tecnam - it never happened. Given the past performance of Tecnam doing right by its customers, I'd say the chances of me getting a new, free windshield is about the same probability of me winning the lotto. 

 

[ergo1]

Jun 29, 2022 22:48:16 GMT Ed Midgley said:

The Polycarbonate windshields aren’t ready yet mainly because Tecnam sent a 2010 windshield to the manufacturer to make the mold I had no knowledge of this until the made it. They now have the correct windshield to copy.
The new polycarbonate windshield will cost about $1,250.00 each.
My first windshield was supposed to cost me 10K but, because of the mixup I’ll have over 20K in it.
It is what it is.
Ed

Hi Ed
Do you know if the Polycarbonate windshields will have an STC? If not, how do you plan on installing the replacement?
Thanks 
Eric

[ChiMike]

They are a great airplane when everything is working correctly. No complaints.

But as an honorable company what provides customer support they are very bad.

All of us make an investment of $100,000+ to $400,000 (or more) in their product. WE ARE THEIR MARKETING. And their inability to self-promote their own airplanes simply by keeping their word with their paying customers so we will say nice things about them is implausible to me as an American businessman.