A ramp svcman reports B767-200 aircraft are loaded without adequate container stops in the forward c...

Attributes
ACN	508525
Time
Date	200004
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier Other
Function	other personnel other
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	observation : air carrier inspector
Qualification	other other : faa inspector
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : person 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated other Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

On a flight bound for chicago, I loaded an aircraft a little different than the norm. On a B777 there are 32 pallet position in the cargo compartment. In the front section there are 18 position located in the forward cargo system. The air carrier had the aircraft set up so that you can short position in case of a light load. On B767, the air carrier used to employ a 2 X 4 piece of wood between position 5 and 6 so the containers don't shift during flight. The air carrier has since said that the 2 X 4 piece of wood is no longer needed because the movement is acceptable, so the flight was loaded so that the ld-7 locks were employed and the locks rearward were set for safety. The container had a 4-6 inch gap between spots 5 and 3, and 6 and 4. On board was an FAA inspector and complained that the cargo was not secured and he could hear the cargo constantly shift in-flight. There was an investigation that involved the loader operator, management and myself. The air carrier still lets aircraft leave with a 4-6 inch gap between these position. All B767 ETOPS series and B767 aircraft have this problem, but the B777 can be loaded differently to avoid the problem. The B767 on the other hand, has this problem and neither the air carrier nor the FAA has done anything to curtail the situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A RAMP SVCMAN RPTS B767-200 ACFT ARE LOADED WITHOUT ADEQUATE CONTAINER STOPS IN THE FORWARD CARGO COMPARTMENT AT POS 5 AND 3.

Narrative: ON A FLT BOUND FOR CHICAGO, I LOADED AN ACFT A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE NORM. ON A B777 THERE ARE 32 PALLET POS IN THE CARGO COMPARTMENT. IN THE FRONT SECTION THERE ARE 18 POS LOCATED IN THE FORWARD CARGO SYS. THE ACR HAD THE ACFT SET UP SO THAT YOU CAN SHORT POS IN CASE OF A LIGHT LOAD. ON B767, THE ACR USED TO EMPLOY A 2 X 4 PIECE OF WOOD BTWN POS 5 AND 6 SO THE CONTAINERS DON'T SHIFT DURING FLT. THE ACR HAS SINCE SAID THAT THE 2 X 4 PIECE OF WOOD IS NO LONGER NEEDED BECAUSE THE MOVEMENT IS ACCEPTABLE, SO THE FLT WAS LOADED SO THAT THE LD-7 LOCKS WERE EMPLOYED AND THE LOCKS REARWARD WERE SET FOR SAFETY. THE CONTAINER HAD A 4-6 INCH GAP BTWN SPOTS 5 AND 3, AND 6 AND 4. ON BOARD WAS AN FAA INSPECTOR AND COMPLAINED THAT THE CARGO WAS NOT SECURED AND HE COULD HEAR THE CARGO CONSTANTLY SHIFT INFLT. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION THAT INVOLVED THE LOADER OPERATOR, MGMNT AND MYSELF. THE ACR STILL LETS ACFT LEAVE WITH A 4-6 INCH GAP BTWN THESE POS. ALL B767 ETOPS SERIES AND B767 ACFT HAVE THIS PROB, BUT THE B777 CAN BE LOADED DIFFERENTLY TO AVOID THE PROB. THE B767 ON THE OTHER HAND, HAS THIS PROB AND NEITHER THE ACR NOR THE FAA HAS DONE ANYTHING TO CURTAIL THE SIT.

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.

A ramp svcman reports B767-200 aircraft are loaded without adequate container stops in the forward cargo compartment at position 5 and 3.