A B727-200 was dispatched with the actual load plan in kilograms and loaded in the weight and balance computer in pounds. Aircraft did not meet performance standards.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	695467
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 13500 flight time type : 3400
ASRS Report	695467
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : acft performance other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 36
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Air crew given load plan that was figured out in kgs (kilos versus pounds). We put the amount 17500 kgs in the weight and balance computer. The mistake was inadvertent as we are always given pounds in all of our operations. The aircraft didn't fly right on takeoff climb and couldn't meet the cruising levels on the flight plans. This happened on both legs from ZZZ to ZZZ1 and ZZZ1 to ZZZ2 to ZZZ3. After reviewing the weight and balance load plan; it was noticed that the words in small print at the bottom said kgs; much to our amazement. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the error was introduced when a large number of boxes were found stenciled with just numbers and not idented as pounds or kilograms. Their operation was planned on weight in pounds and these numbers were taken as pounds. The boxes were never actually weighed. The load plan they were given was entered into the weight and balance computer in pounds. After takeoff; the airplane could not meet performance standards. On trip termination after reviewing the load plan; it was noticed the small print at the bottom said kgs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727-200 WAS DISPATCHED WITH THE ACTUAL LOAD PLAN IN KILOGRAMS AND LOADED IN THE WT AND BAL COMPUTER IN LBS. ACFT DID NOT MEET PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

Narrative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

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.