Narrative:

A passenger's lithium ion battery powered wheelchair device tag was delivered to the captain that was incomplete. The lithium ion check box was checked; but neither the checklist for battery secured nor battery removed where complied with or checked as required. Upon questioning the ramp workers about the lithium ion battery no one seemed to know where the battery was; eventually it was determined the battery was removed from the wheelchair and in possession of the passenger. After confirming the battery was with the passenger in the cabin it was determined that the cabin battery seat location on the mobility device tag was also not filled out as required. After gathering the required information a new mobility device tag was filled out correctly and supplied to the captain. After takeoff I became more concerned about documentation policies not being followed that I wondered if anything else was not complied with. With regard to pilot flight operations manual; there is an example of the battery powered wheelchair and mobility device tag. Below it is a note that states if the battery is removed and boxed; only the united-designed battery box can be used. At this point I asked the purser to go check with the passenger and see how the battery was stored or protected. I was told the battery was in a cardboard box; placed inside the passenger's carry-on luggage. Upon arrival in ZZZ1 I went to customer service and asked about the united-designed box for wheelchair batteries; I was told that one exists but no one could recall seeing one being used in recent years. So my experience was this; it caused an extension to our already delayed flight delay do to incomplete forms; a violation of several requirements to safely carry a lithium ion wheelchair battery and some confusion as to whether a united-designed battery box is required for lithium ion wheelchair batteries to be carried in the cabin.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Captain reported wheelchair Lithium Ion battery was transported in a unauthorized Hazmat container.

Narrative: A passenger's Lithium Ion battery powered wheelchair device tag was delivered to the Captain that was incomplete. The lithium ion check box was checked; but neither the checklist for battery secured nor battery removed where complied with or checked as required. Upon questioning the ramp workers about the lithium ion battery no one seemed to know where the battery was; eventually it was determined the battery was removed from the wheelchair and in possession of the passenger. After confirming the battery was with the passenger in the cabin it was determined that the cabin battery seat location on the mobility device tag was also not filled out as required. After gathering the required information a new mobility device tag was filled out correctly and supplied to the Captain. After takeoff I became more concerned about documentation policies not being followed that I wondered if anything else was not complied with. With regard to pilot Flight Operations Manual; there is an example of the battery powered wheelchair and mobility device tag. Below it is a note that states if the battery is removed and boxed; only the United-designed battery box can be used. At this point I asked the purser to go check with the passenger and see how the battery was stored or protected. I was told the battery was in a cardboard box; placed inside the passenger's carry-on luggage. Upon arrival in ZZZ1 I went to customer service and asked about the United-designed box for wheelchair batteries; I was told that one exists but no one could recall seeing one being used in recent years. So my experience was this; it caused an extension to our already delayed flight delay do to incomplete forms; a violation of several requirements to safely carry a lithium ion wheelchair battery and some confusion as to whether a United-designed battery box is required for lithium ion wheelchair batteries to be carried in the cabin.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.