Narrative:

Tug driver cleared us to start both engines at the commence of the pushback. Pushback procedures between our aircraft and the tug driver were SOP up to setting the brakes at the end of the pushback from the gate. The first officer started the #1 engine during the pushback. I set the brakes per the tug driver's instructions and the first officer began to start the #2 engine. At approximately 20% N2 rotation on the #2 engine; the forward cargo door was opened by a ramp agent to load late bags. The first officer immediately aborted the #2 engine start. The tug driver cleared us to start both engines. We were never told about late bags or someone approaching the aircraft to load late bags. I asked the tug driver why did someone open the cargo door without our being notified. He did not have an answer.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING PUSHBACK; B737-300 FLT CREW OBSERVED THAT THE FWD CARGO DOOR WAS OPENED DURING THE #2 ENG START SEQUENCE.

Narrative: TUG DRIVER CLRED US TO START BOTH ENGS AT THE COMMENCE OF THE PUSHBACK. PUSHBACK PROCS BTWN OUR ACFT AND THE TUG DRIVER WERE SOP UP TO SETTING THE BRAKES AT THE END OF THE PUSHBACK FROM THE GATE. THE FO STARTED THE #1 ENG DURING THE PUSHBACK. I SET THE BRAKES PER THE TUG DRIVER'S INSTRUCTIONS AND THE FO BEGAN TO START THE #2 ENG. AT APPROX 20% N2 ROTATION ON THE #2 ENG; THE FORWARD CARGO DOOR WAS OPENED BY A RAMP AGENT TO LOAD LATE BAGS. THE FO IMMEDIATELY ABORTED THE #2 ENG START. THE TUG DRIVER CLRED US TO START BOTH ENGS. WE WERE NEVER TOLD ABOUT LATE BAGS OR SOMEONE APCHING THE ACFT TO LOAD LATE BAGS. I ASKED THE TUG DRIVER WHY DID SOMEONE OPEN THE CARGO DOOR WITHOUT OUR BEING NOTIFIED. HE DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.