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B757 captain reports confusion on the part of her first officer when complying with new checklist procedures concerning takeoff weights. A 10;000 pounds reduction in takeoff weight on the final weight and balance is not detected by the first officer.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 934625 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201102 |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B757-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Taxi |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 240 Flight Crew Total 23000 Flight Crew Type 4000 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Procedural Weight And Balance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
We did our normal cockpit setup. When the final numbers came; the first officer said the change was 100 pounds; and we did our before takeoff check list; and got to weights; again he said; 100 pounds; speeds are good. When I looked closer; the final weights said; the change is -9;886; almost 10;000 pounds. The confusion was in the fact that the ZFW was used from the runway data; and the change was 100 from that. We didn't have an issue; being 9;886 pounds lighter; but if it was heavier; it would have been a huge mistake; possibly resulting in a tail strike. We checked the fom; but it doesn't specify to read the final weight manifest; it just says 'speeds checked and set'. My first officer stated that he wasn't sure which numbers he was supposed to compare; the runway or the flight plan. I think we can all see the confusion with our new procedure.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B757 Captain reports confusion on the part of her First Officer when complying with new checklist procedures concerning takeoff weights. A 10;000 LBS reduction in takeoff weight on the final weight and balance is not detected by the First Officer.
Narrative: We did our normal cockpit setup. When the final numbers came; the First Officer said the change was 100 LBS; and we did our before takeoff check list; and got to weights; again he said; 100 LBS; speeds are good. When I looked closer; the final weights said; the change is -9;886; almost 10;000 LBS. The confusion was in the fact that the ZFW was used from the runway data; and the change was 100 from that. We didn't have an issue; being 9;886 LBS lighter; but if it was heavier; it would have been a huge mistake; possibly resulting in a tail strike. We checked the FOM; but it doesn't specify to read the final weight manifest; it just says 'speeds checked and set'. My First Officer stated that he wasn't sure which numbers he was supposed to compare; the runway or the flight plan. I think we can all see the confusion with our new procedure.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.