Incident Overview
According to the captain's report, the aircraft was empty except for six cargo deck pallets. Contrary to standard procedure, the pallets were stacked at the 'B' position near the front of the cargo deck instead of being spread out and secured across the floor. When takeoff power was applied, the pallets shifted and impacted the aft bulkhead, prompting the pilots to abort the takeoff.
Immediate Actions
Following the abort, the pilots conducted a visual inspection of the aft bulkhead and concluded that no damage had occurred. The cargo pallets were then secured to the cargo deck. The pilots re-filed the flight plan and proceeded with the positioning flight.
Later Findings
A subsequent inspection revealed substantial damage to the aircraft. Investigation disclosed that a company aviation mechanic had instructed the cargo handlers to stack the pallets rather than distribute and secure them individually. The cargo deck had six designated pallet positions labeled A through F. Handlers strapped five of the pallets together with cargo straps and placed them on the pallet secured in position B. The five pallets were not secured to that base pallet. Additionally, a pallet jack was secured on top of the five pallets using cargo straps.