Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Troubleshooting; Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
In cruise at 33000 ft. as we were preparing for an approach briefing we received a 'L WSHLD HEAT' caution message. I asked the First Officer to keep flying the airplane and to take the radios while I ran the QRH. While running the QRH for L Windshield heat Caution we noticed a discolored line running vertically up the middle or the left windshield from the bottom to just past the mid height of the windshield. I looked closer and could see it was a small crack starting. I switched procedures and ran the QRH for non EICAS 'Window/Windshield (Arcing; Delaminated; Shatter; or Crack)' Per procedure I turned off left windshield heat; switched cabin pressure controller to manual; and began to climb the cabin pressure to lower delta P. As soon as the cabin began to climb the windshield shattered with a loud bang.I advised the First Officer we needed to descend as a precaution and he coordinated with ATC to start down. While descending I slowed the rate of cabin climb and noted we still had control and that pressurization still did not appear to be an issue. Passing through 27000 ft. we received a 'Cabin Alt' caution as the cabin climbed above 8;000 ft.; I noted delta P still above 6.2. I stopped climbing the cabin at 9000 ft. cabin altitude to avoid inadvertently deploying the passenger oxygen masks and asked the First Officer to expedite our descent to lower delta P; cabin pressure held at 9000 ft. We continued our descent to 10;000 ft. as a precaution; I notified Dispatch of the situation; they requested we return to ZZZ. We coordinated with ATC and returned. The Flight Attendants were advised of the situation [and of] returning. I made an announcement to the passengers advising we had experienced a minor mechanical issue; the aircraft was still safe but as a precaution we were going to return. The flight was successful without further incident; we swapped ships in ZZZ and completed the turn.
CRJ-900 Captain reported their windshield shattered which resulted in returning to their point of departure.