Narrative:

On departure out of phl it was noticed that the aircraft was pitch sensitive and more than normal nose down trim was needed to keep the aircraft trimmed. Upon arrival at our destination avp we asked the baggage handlers to give us a count of bags and cargo in the rear and forward bin. We were given a count of 19 bags in the forward bin (which is ok) and 15 bags, 4 carry-on bags, 678 pounds of freight and 30# of mail. The limitations on the forward bin is 500 pounds, on the rear bin is 850 pounds. As you can see, we were ok on the limitation for the forward bin. At 23.5 pounds per bag that gives you a total of 446.5 pounds in the forward bin. But, in the rear bin, the limitation was exceeded by 304.5 pounds and I assume that the cg was also out. Rear bin: (19 bags = 446.5) + (cargo = 678) + (mail = 30) = 1154.5 pounds. In phl my first officer gave the lead of operations our restrictions due to our fuel load (33 passenger, 33 bags). I also talked to the lead baggage handler and told him of our restrictions. At that time I noticed some cargo being loaded and the lead said he understood our restrictions. When the first officer returned to the aircraft with the load counts, I asked him what they were. Phl said there were 27 passenger, 34 bags, 338# of cargo and they had added 4 carry-on bags to the rear bin. Now this all sounds ok, but where the mistake was made was, instead of there being 308# of cargo, there were 8 boxes totally 308 KG. When converted to #'south, that comes to 678 pounds. The main is something we were not told about in a break-down form. The phl baggage handlers seem to negligent in loading of aircraft more than normal. I know as a captain, I am responsible, but it is hard to stand there and count every bag that goes on the aircraft when I have other duties to perform. That's why we have baggage handlers, right?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STRUCTURAL LIMIT SOF BAGGAGE BINS ON LTT TRANSPORT WERE EXCEEDED. ACFT OUT OF BALANCE REQUIRED HEAVY TRIM. ACFT PROBABLY EXCEEDED WEIGHT AND BALANCE LIMITATIONS.

Narrative: ON DEP OUT OF PHL IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE ACFT WAS PITCH SENSITIVE AND MORE THAN NORMAL NOSE DOWN TRIM WAS NEEDED TO KEEP THE ACFT TRIMMED. UPON ARR AT OUR DEST AVP WE ASKED THE BAGGAGE HANDLERS TO GIVE US A COUNT OF BAGS AND CARGO IN THE REAR AND FORWARD BIN. WE WERE GIVEN A COUNT OF 19 BAGS IN THE FORWARD BIN (WHICH IS OK) AND 15 BAGS, 4 CARRY-ON BAGS, 678 LBS OF FREIGHT AND 30# OF MAIL. THE LIMITATIONS ON THE FORWARD BIN IS 500 LBS, ON THE REAR BIN IS 850 LBS. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE WERE OK ON THE LIMITATION FOR THE FORWARD BIN. AT 23.5 LBS PER BAG THAT GIVES YOU A TOTAL OF 446.5 LBS IN THE FORWARD BIN. BUT, IN THE REAR BIN, THE LIMITATION WAS EXCEEDED BY 304.5 LBS AND I ASSUME THAT THE CG WAS ALSO OUT. REAR BIN: (19 BAGS = 446.5) + (CARGO = 678) + (MAIL = 30) = 1154.5 LBS. IN PHL MY F/O GAVE THE LEAD OF OPS OUR RESTRICTIONS DUE TO OUR FUEL LOAD (33 PAX, 33 BAGS). I ALSO TALKED TO THE LEAD BAGGAGE HANDLER AND TOLD HIM OF OUR RESTRICTIONS. AT THAT TIME I NOTICED SOME CARGO BEING LOADED AND THE LEAD SAID HE UNDERSTOOD OUR RESTRICTIONS. WHEN THE F/O RETURNED TO THE ACFT WITH THE LOAD COUNTS, I ASKED HIM WHAT THEY WERE. PHL SAID THERE WERE 27 PAX, 34 BAGS, 338# OF CARGO AND THEY HAD ADDED 4 CARRY-ON BAGS TO THE REAR BIN. NOW THIS ALL SOUNDS OK, BUT WHERE THE MISTAKE WAS MADE WAS, INSTEAD OF THERE BEING 308# OF CARGO, THERE WERE 8 BOXES TOTALLY 308 KG. WHEN CONVERTED TO #'S, THAT COMES TO 678 LBS. THE MAIN IS SOMETHING WE WERE NOT TOLD ABOUT IN A BREAK-DOWN FORM. THE PHL BAGGAGE HANDLERS SEEM TO NEGLIGENT IN LOADING OF ACFT MORE THAN NORMAL. I KNOW AS A CAPT, I AM RESPONSIBLE, BUT IT IS HARD TO STAND THERE AND COUNT EVERY BAG THAT GOES ON THE ACFT WHEN I HAVE OTHER DUTIES TO PERFORM. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE BAGGAGE HANDLERS, RIGHT?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.