Narrative:

This particular flight was weight restr with a maximum takeoff weight based upon landing of 354100 pounds. Due to an ACARS printer jam, the load closeout figures were obtained via radio from sdq operations and none of the data received exceeded any limitations on the tps. The takeoff weight given was 353800 pounds and no child count was reflected in the passenger count of 267. Upon reaching the top of climb, I referred to the takeoff/approach and mode page of the CDU to view the pertinent data for landing and was presented with a planned landing weight in excess of 312000 pounds, which would have resulted in an overweight landing. After retrieving the jammed messages from the ACARS printer, the closeout reflected a cargo weight of 31900 pounds and a child count of 23. The maximum cargo weight should have been 28619 pounds. While coordinating a phone patch with dispatch via new york commercial radio, we obtained clearance from ZMA to traverse A554 at FL260 in lieu of FL310 which we were filed for and flying. The dispatcher was apprised of my concerns, called sdq operations, and suggested 'oa' offload audit at jfk. I requested a head count from the purser, and was told that we had 15 children -- not 23 -- a difference of 800 pounds. We ultimately burned off sufficient fuel at the lower altitude and landed below the maximum landing weight. I called dispatch from home and was informed that the audit revealed we were 2200 pounds heavier than told. This 3000 pound difference pretty well matched the performance figures displayed by the CDU.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A300 EXCEEDS MAX TKOF GROSS WT DUE TO ERROR IN COMPANY CALCULATIONS.

Narrative: THIS PARTICULAR FLT WAS WT RESTR WITH A MAX TKOF WT BASED UPON LNDG OF 354100 LBS. DUE TO AN ACARS PRINTER JAM, THE LOAD CLOSEOUT FIGURES WERE OBTAINED VIA RADIO FROM SDQ OPS AND NONE OF THE DATA RECEIVED EXCEEDED ANY LIMITATIONS ON THE TPS. THE TKOF WT GIVEN WAS 353800 LBS AND NO CHILD COUNT WAS REFLECTED IN THE PAX COUNT OF 267. UPON REACHING THE TOP OF CLB, I REFERRED TO THE TKOF/APCH AND MODE PAGE OF THE CDU TO VIEW THE PERTINENT DATA FOR LNDG AND WAS PRESENTED WITH A PLANNED LNDG WT IN EXCESS OF 312000 LBS, WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN OVERWT LNDG. AFTER RETRIEVING THE JAMMED MESSAGES FROM THE ACARS PRINTER, THE CLOSEOUT REFLECTED A CARGO WT OF 31900 LBS AND A CHILD COUNT OF 23. THE MAX CARGO WT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 28619 LBS. WHILE COORDINATING A PHONE PATCH WITH DISPATCH VIA NEW YORK COMMERCIAL RADIO, WE OBTAINED CLRNC FROM ZMA TO TRAVERSE A554 AT FL260 IN LIEU OF FL310 WHICH WE WERE FILED FOR AND FLYING. THE DISPATCHER WAS APPRISED OF MY CONCERNS, CALLED SDQ OPS, AND SUGGESTED 'OA' OFFLOAD AUDIT AT JFK. I REQUESTED A HEAD COUNT FROM THE PURSER, AND WAS TOLD THAT WE HAD 15 CHILDREN -- NOT 23 -- A DIFFERENCE OF 800 LBS. WE ULTIMATELY BURNED OFF SUFFICIENT FUEL AT THE LOWER ALT AND LANDED BELOW THE MAX LNDG WT. I CALLED DISPATCH FROM HOME AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE AUDIT REVEALED WE WERE 2200 LBS HEAVIER THAN TOLD. THIS 3000 LB DIFFERENCE PRETTY WELL MATCHED THE PERFORMANCE FIGURES DISPLAYED BY THE CDU.

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.