While loading cargo with rain falling and the cargo door open; a md-11 ground crew failed to protect...

Attributes
ACN	1281275
Time
Date	201507
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Cargo Door
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

Moderate to heavy rain during aircraft loading. I observed main cargo door in open position. Considering the rain and water entering through the cargo door; I requested the loader operator; two ramp agents and one other ramp person to get the door into the canopy position. No action was taken. Door remained open for entire load operation. Rain lasted approx. 20+ minutes. After load complete and door closed; I made aml entry requesting inspection for water intrusion. Maintenance inspected and reported dry east&east; cac and main cargo deck dry. Shortly after takeoff multiple alerts occurred. Many were transitory. [Display unit] 1; 2 & 3 went blank for several seconds. Some of the alerts we worked through with the QRH were; gen 1 off; battery discharging; aircraft tie 1 off; emergency power on. All the while; other alerts occurring momentarily. My intention was to get cleaned up and fly to destination. However; a batter discharging is a 'land at nearest suitable.' we returned to the departure airport.upon return; maintenance personnel found and reported copious amounts of water in the cac. The rain combined with the main cargo door in the open position during loading with rainfall. Ramp loading personnel not following procedures with regard to door position.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: While loading cargo with rain falling and the cargo door open; a MD-11 ground crew failed to protect the aircraft interior from rain. After takeoff the crew returned to land because of numerous malfunctions caused by water on electronics.

Narrative: Moderate to heavy rain during aircraft loading. I observed main cargo door in open position. Considering the rain and water entering through the cargo door; I requested the loader operator; two ramp agents and one other ramp person to get the door into the canopy position. NO action was taken. Door remained open for entire load operation. Rain lasted approx. 20+ minutes. After load complete and door closed; I made AML entry requesting inspection for water intrusion. Maintenance inspected and reported dry E&E; CAC and main cargo deck dry. Shortly after takeoff multiple alerts occurred. Many were transitory. [Display unit] 1; 2 & 3 went blank for several seconds. Some of the alerts we worked through with the QRH were; GEN 1 off; Battery discharging; aircraft tie 1 off; emergency power on. All the while; other alerts occurring momentarily. My intention was to get cleaned up and fly to destination. However; a batter discharging is a 'land at nearest suitable.' We returned to the departure airport.Upon return; Maintenance personnel found and reported copious amounts of water in the CAC. The rain combined with the main cargo door in the OPEN position during loading with rainfall. Ramp loading personnel not following procedures with regard to door position.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

While loading cargo with rain falling and the cargo door open; a md-11 ground crew failed to protect the aircraft interior from rain. After takeoff the crew returned to land because of numerous malfunctions caused by water on electronics.