Narrative:

Approximately an hour after takeoff from ZZZ; we received an acars message from dispatch indicating that our dispatcher was called and informed that there was 437 lbs of undocumented cargo in our forward cargo compartment. We then checked the cargo load report (clear); which showed baggage information; but had no indication of any further cargo that would have been loaded onto the plane. We learned; from dispatch; that the cargo was an electric wheelchair; and a lift. The wheelchair weighing 375 lbs; and the lift weighing 62 lbs. We requested that dispatch recontact operations in ZZZ and determine what type of battery was in the chair. We were then told it was a non spillable battery and was not powered on. Dispatch requested our zero fuel weight; and current fuel onboard; so that he could rerun the weight and balance numbers with the added cargo. The weight and balance was still within limits with the accurate cargo weight. During the boarding process we were not able to see a passenger being loaded onto the plane from a wheelchair. We never informed that an electric wheelchair with a battery was being loaded into the cargo compartment. It was loaded after a preflight inspection was completed on the aircraft; so it was not seen in the cargo compartment. Without being informed by the ramp crew; and the information being listed on the clear; there was no way for the flight crew to know that the cargo was on the aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMB-175 Captain reported no NOTOC of the inflight ACARs notification of undocumented Hazmat cargo [battery powered wheelchair] in cargo compartment.

Narrative: Approximately an hour after takeoff from ZZZ; we received an ACARs message from Dispatch indicating that our Dispatcher was called and informed that there was 437 lbs of undocumented cargo in our forward cargo compartment. We then checked the Cargo Load Report (CLR); which showed baggage information; but had no indication of any further cargo that would have been loaded onto the plane. We learned; from Dispatch; that the cargo was an electric wheelchair; and a lift. The wheelchair weighing 375 lbs; and the lift weighing 62 lbs. We requested that Dispatch recontact Operations in ZZZ and determine what type of battery was in the chair. We were then told it was a non spillable battery and was not powered on. Dispatch requested our zero fuel weight; and current fuel onboard; so that he could rerun the weight and balance numbers with the added cargo. The weight and balance was still within limits with the accurate cargo weight. During the boarding process we were not able to see a passenger being loaded onto the plane from a wheelchair. We never informed that an electric wheelchair with a battery was being loaded into the cargo compartment. It was loaded after a preflight inspection was completed on the aircraft; so it was not seen in the cargo compartment. Without being informed by the ramp crew; and the information being listed on the CLR; there was no way for the flight crew to know that the cargo was on the aircraft.

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.