Narrative:

Agent made passenger count error on closeout. Weight & balance numbers for our flight indicated 267 passenger; zero fuel weight 277.9 ptow 336.9. Load closeout number indicated 143 passenger; zero fuel weight 255.9; takeoff weight 315.2. I calculated the new zero fuel weight of 255.9 and the current fuel onboard of 60.0 for a takeoff weight of 315.9. We noted that the weight discrepancy was due to the loss of 124 passenger and zero fuel weight center of gravity; takeoff center of gravity and stabilizer setting were all in agreement with closeout. We used original weight & balance standard thrust speeds for takeoff. During rotation on takeoff noted that cg was not correct and required nose down trim during climb out to maintain normal performance. After takeoff received message from dispatch indicating possible passenger count discrepancy on closeout. Requested that flight attendants do a passenger count that revealed 254 passenger. Relayed new count to dispatch and received updated load closeout. We manually updated FMS with new calculated gross weight. Flight otherwise uneventful.supplemental information from acn 718514: the load agent accepted responsibility for the error and dispatch indicated that the load agent would self report the incident. The load agent error resulted in an actual difference of 111 additional passenger and a corresponding increase in our actual zero fuel weight. Note: the original closeout appeared in order from our perspective. The 22000 pound difference between planned takeoff weight and load closeout takeoff weight corresponded to the reduced passenger count indicated on the closeout: ie 247-143=124 X 220 pounds per passenger approximated the 22000 pound difference. It is not the first time I have seen a passenger load fall off by 100 or more; especially during seasonal travel.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR PLT RPTS A WT & BALANCE DISCREPANCY WITH TKOF SPEED AND TRIM SETTING CALCULATION ERRORS.

Narrative: AGENT MADE PAX COUNT ERROR ON CLOSEOUT. WT & BALANCE NUMBERS FOR OUR FLT INDICATED 267 PAX; ZERO FUEL WT 277.9 PTOW 336.9. LOAD CLOSEOUT NUMBER INDICATED 143 PAX; ZERO FUEL WT 255.9; TAKEOFF WT 315.2. I CALCULATED THE NEW ZERO FUEL WT OF 255.9 AND THE CURRENT FUEL ONBOARD OF 60.0 FOR A TAKEOFF WT OF 315.9. WE NOTED THAT THE WT DISCREPANCY WAS DUE TO THE LOSS OF 124 PAX AND ZERO FUEL WT CENTER OF GRAVITY; TAKEOFF CENTER OF GRAVITY AND STAB SETTING WERE ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH CLOSEOUT. WE USED ORIGINAL WT & BALANCE STANDARD THRUST SPEEDS FOR TAKEOFF. DURING ROTATION ON TAKEOFF NOTED THAT CG WAS NOT CORRECT AND REQUIRED NOSE DOWN TRIM DURING CLBOUT TO MAINTAIN NORMAL PERFORMANCE. AFTER TAKEOFF RECEIVED MSG FROM DISPATCH INDICATING POSSIBLE PAX COUNT DISCREPANCY ON CLOSEOUT. REQUESTED THAT FLT ATTENDANTS DO A PAX COUNT THAT REVEALED 254 PAX. RELAYED NEW COUNT TO DISPATCH AND RECEIVED UPDATED LOAD CLOSEOUT. WE MANUALLY UPDATED FMS WITH NEW CALCULATED GROSS WT. FLT OTHERWISE UNEVENTFUL.SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 718514: THE LOAD AGENT ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ERROR AND DISPATCH INDICATED THAT THE LOAD AGENT WOULD SELF RPT THE INCIDENT. THE LOAD AGENT ERROR RESULTED IN AN ACTUAL DIFFERENCE OF 111 ADDITIONAL PAX AND A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN OUR ACTUAL ZERO FUEL WT. NOTE: THE ORIGINAL CLOSEOUT APPEARED IN ORDER FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE. THE 22000 LB DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLANNED TAKEOFF WT AND LOAD CLOSEOUT TAKEOFF WT CORRESPONDED TO THE REDUCED PAX COUNT INDICATED ON THE CLOSEOUT: IE 247-143=124 X 220 LBS PER PAX APPROXIMATED THE 22000 LB DIFFERENCE. IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN A PAX LOAD FALL OFF BY 100 OR MORE; ESPECIALLY DURING SEASONAL TRAVEL.

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.