Narrative:

Math error computing weight and balance. Scheduled for from mdw-phx. A math error was made when computing the weight and balance resulting in the aircraft being heavier than calculated. The aircraft was within structural limitations and did not exhibit any unusual handling characteristics, this could be a bad situation. In my opinion this is caused by keeping the flight open until the last min and then trying to get the flight out on time. Recommendation: 1) recommend a better system of check and balance. The flight should be closed 15 to 20 mins prior to pushback. 2) at this time, a load planner should come up with all the final weights, including final passenger, bags, cargo, and aircraft basic weight. Pass this to the crew. 3) the crew calculates weight and balance and compares this number with the load planners. This will double check in case the planner or the crew makes an error.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727-200 WAS RELEASED AND OPERATED WITH INCORRECT WT AND BAL NUMBERS DUE TO A MATHEMATICAL ERROR BY THE LOAD PLANNER.

Narrative: MATH ERROR COMPUTING WT AND BAL. SCHEDULED FOR FROM MDW-PHX. A MATH ERROR WAS MADE WHEN COMPUTING THE WT AND BAL RESULTING IN THE ACFT BEING HEAVIER THAN CALCULATED. THE ACFT WAS WITHIN STRUCTURAL LIMITATIONS AND DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY UNUSUAL HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS, THIS COULD BE A BAD SIT. IN MY OPINION THIS IS CAUSED BY KEEPING THE FLT OPEN UNTIL THE LAST MIN AND THEN TRYING TO GET THE FLT OUT ON TIME. RECOMMENDATION: 1) RECOMMEND A BETTER SYS OF CHK AND BAL. THE FLT SHOULD BE CLOSED 15 TO 20 MINS PRIOR TO PUSHBACK. 2) AT THIS TIME, A LOAD PLANNER SHOULD COME UP WITH ALL THE FINAL WTS, INCLUDING FINAL PAX, BAGS, CARGO, AND ACFT BASIC WT. PASS THIS TO THE CREW. 3) THE CREW CALCULATES WT AND BAL AND COMPARES THIS NUMBER WITH THE LOAD PLANNERS. THIS WILL DOUBLE CHK IN CASE THE PLANNER OR THE CREW MAKES AN ERROR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.