Narrative:

While climbing out of fresno direct to ehf (shafter VOR) on sep/xx/97, flight control called us on the radio and ordered us to return back to fresno. When we asked for the reason for the return, flight control indicated that they were unable to explain why, and to call them on the phone on the ground. After holding for approximately 30 mins to burn fuel, we landed uneventfully at fresno. After shutdown and passenger were taken off aircraft, I was informed by maintenance that a maintenance parts box was loaded in the pod cargo area of our aircraft which included a fire bottle charged with 600 psi pressure. No special remarks were noted on my load manifest form regarding special cargo, nor were we (first officer and I) informed by anyone that this fire bottle was loaded on our aircraft. My suggestion is that all mechanics should be trained on hazmat, which would solve this problem that occurred to me.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT RPT REGARDING A REQUEST TO RETURN TO DEP ARPT FROM FLT CTL. HE IS UNABLE TO RECEIVE A REASON FOR THE RETURN. ONCE ON THE GND HE IS NOTIFIED THAT A FIRE BOTTLE CHARGED TO 600 PSI WAS LOADED ABOARD THE ACFT.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING OUT OF FRESNO DIRECT TO EHF (SHAFTER VOR) ON SEP/XX/97, FLT CTL CALLED US ON THE RADIO AND ORDERED US TO RETURN BACK TO FRESNO. WHEN WE ASKED FOR THE REASON FOR THE RETURN, FLT CTL INDICATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY, AND TO CALL THEM ON THE PHONE ON THE GND. AFTER HOLDING FOR APPROX 30 MINS TO BURN FUEL, WE LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AT FRESNO. AFTER SHUTDOWN AND PAX WERE TAKEN OFF ACFT, I WAS INFORMED BY MAINT THAT A MAINT PARTS BOX WAS LOADED IN THE POD CARGO AREA OF OUR ACFT WHICH INCLUDED A FIRE BOTTLE CHARGED WITH 600 PSI PRESSURE. NO SPECIAL REMARKS WERE NOTED ON MY LOAD MANIFEST FORM REGARDING SPECIAL CARGO, NOR WERE WE (FO AND I) INFORMED BY ANYONE THAT THIS FIRE BOTTLE WAS LOADED ON OUR ACFT. MY SUGGESTION IS THAT ALL MECHS SHOULD BE TRAINED ON HAZMAT, WHICH WOULD SOLVE THIS PROB THAT OCCURRED TO ME.

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.