Narrative:

During taxi out, hazmat form as received prior to pushback showed 3 signatures appropriately entered. We were running checklists and form xxxxx appeared in order. During taxi out, received load closeout and noted 15 restr articles which was unusual. On further review, saw form xxxxx as prepared showed number of packages = 15...symbol for 'at'...package weight 30 kilograms , which equates to total weight of 450 kilograms -- almost 1000 pounds. This sounded way wrong for dry ice limits. Checked with flight manual part I showing compartment limit of 440 pounds. Contacted air carrier supervisor on radio to resolve problem. Said paperwork in error -- total weight should have been 30 kilograms. I told her I would proceed for takeoff only if I could be assured with absolute certainty that original file copies were in hand and all corrected, and we would change our copy. She communicated with crew chief. That done, we proceeded. Although I believe I handled this reasonably, in retrospect, it could be argued that there are 2 issues as technical violations of procedure and need to be discussed. Although cargo department has responsibility for compliance with 49 crash fire rescue equipment regulations, I did depart gate with paperwork showing the aircraft illegal. Second, my correcting my copy via radio information -- though reasonable -- could be possibly construed as a technical violation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH AN INCORRECT HAZARDOUS MATERIAL DOCUMENT. CAPT DISCOVERED ERROR AND CORRECTED VIA RADIO.

Narrative: DURING TAXI OUT, HAZMAT FORM AS RECEIVED PRIOR TO PUSHBACK SHOWED 3 SIGNATURES APPROPRIATELY ENTERED. WE WERE RUNNING CHKLISTS AND FORM XXXXX APPEARED IN ORDER. DURING TAXI OUT, RECEIVED LOAD CLOSEOUT AND NOTED 15 RESTR ARTICLES WHICH WAS UNUSUAL. ON FURTHER REVIEW, SAW FORM XXXXX AS PREPARED SHOWED NUMBER OF PACKAGES = 15...SYMBOL FOR 'AT'...PACKAGE WT 30 KILOGRAMS , WHICH EQUATES TO TOTAL WT OF 450 KILOGRAMS -- ALMOST 1000 LBS. THIS SOUNDED WAY WRONG FOR DRY ICE LIMITS. CHKED WITH FLT MANUAL PART I SHOWING COMPARTMENT LIMIT OF 440 LBS. CONTACTED ACR SUPVR ON RADIO TO RESOLVE PROB. SAID PAPERWORK IN ERROR -- TOTAL WT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 30 KILOGRAMS. I TOLD HER I WOULD PROCEED FOR TKOF ONLY IF I COULD BE ASSURED WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT ORIGINAL FILE COPIES WERE IN HAND AND ALL CORRECTED, AND WE WOULD CHANGE OUR COPY. SHE COMMUNICATED WITH CREW CHIEF. THAT DONE, WE PROCEEDED. ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE I HANDLED THIS REASONABLY, IN RETROSPECT, IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT THERE ARE 2 ISSUES AS TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS OF PROC AND NEED TO BE DISCUSSED. ALTHOUGH CARGO DEPT HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH 49 CFR REGS, I DID DEPART GATE WITH PAPERWORK SHOWING THE ACFT ILLEGAL. SECOND, MY CORRECTING MY COPY VIA RADIO INFO -- THOUGH REASONABLE -- COULD BE POSSIBLY CONSTRUED AS A TECHNICAL VIOLATION.

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.