Captain of EMB145 reports that tape had been put over the baggage compartment viewing port.

Attributes
ACN	575645
Time
Date	200302
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	575645
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

During preflight inspection, I noticed that the peephole in the baggage compartment had been taped over. This peephole is used by the crew in emergency sits to determine if there is a fire in the baggage compartment. I have observed this situation at least a dozen times in the past and reported it to company officials, but no one seems to take the matter seriously. A ramp supervisor told me that ramp workers think the peephole is a camera, and that they don't want to be recorded. What if ramp workers think a static port is a microphone and tape it over as well?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF EMB145 REPORTS THAT TAPE HAD BEEN PUT OVER THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT VIEWING PORT.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT INSPECTION, I NOTICED THAT THE PEEPHOLE IN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT HAD BEEN TAPED OVER. THIS PEEPHOLE IS USED BY THE CREW IN EMER SITS TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A FIRE IN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE OBSERVED THIS SIT AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES IN THE PAST AND RPTED IT TO COMPANY OFFICIALS, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO TAKE THE MATTER SERIOUSLY. A RAMP SUPVR TOLD ME THAT RAMP WORKERS THINK THE PEEPHOLE IS A CAMERA, AND THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO BE RECORDED. WHAT IF RAMP WORKERS THINK A STATIC PORT IS A MIKE AND TAPE IT OVER AS WELL?

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.