Captain of emj reports that tape had been put over the baggage compartment viewing port.

Attributes
ACN	643689
Time
Date	200501
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sjt.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Embraer Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	643689
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Events
Anomaly	cabin event other non adherence : company policies non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

During kick-off flight preflight; flight attendant notified me that the lav cargo peep hole was blocked. I left the cockpit to investigate and found that it had been neatly taped over with a rectangular piece of checked luggage tag adhesive paper. I notified the sjt station manager; but regardless; I discussed the safety and security hazards associated with employee purposely taping over the peep hole. This problem has cropped up several times in the past and needs to be readdressed again. I respectfully recommend that flight attendants be reminded to preflight the peep hole every flight and that rampers/agents be advised of the safety and security hazards associated with blocking this vital piece of equipment.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF EMJ REPORTS THAT TAPE HAD BEEN PUT OVER THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT VIEWING PORT.

Narrative: DURING KICK-OFF FLT PREFLT; FLT ATTENDANT NOTIFIED ME THAT THE LAV CARGO PEEP HOLE WAS BLOCKED. I LEFT THE COCKPIT TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THAT IT HAD BEEN NEATLY TAPED OVER WITH A RECTANGULAR PIECE OF CHECKED LUGGAGE TAG ADHESIVE PAPER. I NOTIFIED THE SJT STATION MGR; BUT REGARDLESS; I DISCUSSED THE SAFETY AND SECURITY HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH EMPLOYEE PURPOSELY TAPING OVER THE PEEP HOLE. THIS PROB HAS CROPPED UP SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST AND NEEDS TO BE READDRESSED AGAIN. I RESPECTFULLY RECOMMEND THAT FLT ATTENDANTS BE REMINDED TO PREFLT THE PEEP HOLE EVERY FLT AND THAT RAMPERS/AGENTS BE ADVISED OF THE SAFETY AND SECURITY HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH BLOCKING THIS VITAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

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.