Air carrier Captain reported receiving a Dangerous Goods Form with incomplete Hazmat data. After an extensive delay with no responses from company ground personnel the Captain refused all Hazmat cargo and departed safely.
Synopsis
Air carrier Captain reported receiving a Dangerous Goods Form with incomplete Hazmat data. After an extensive delay with no responses from company ground personnel the Captain refused all Hazmat cargo and departed safely.
Narrative
Received ACARS Dangerous Goods Form approximately XA:02z. Received Dangerous Goods Form from Ramp Lead XA:10z approximately. International paperwork including cargo manifest and air waybill received XA:12z approximately. Dangerous Goods Form states 9 pkgs. Lithium Ion batteries for 45 kgs. and 6 pkgs. for 30 kgs.; total 75 kgs. Company cargo manifest states 17 pcs. Lithium Ion batteries for total weight 862.00 (no units anywhere on sheet). Air Waybill lists 8 pcs. for 254 kgs.; 8 pcs. for 129 kgs. and 1 pc. for 9 kgs. It's unclear from the waybill or manifest or Dangerous Goods Form what exactly the quantity or location or packaging of DG.Airplane sat for 24+ hours. After boarding; we had 1 cabin discrepancy; 1 avionics and 2 maintenance discrepancies. After reference to FOM XX-XX; calls to Chief Pilot on duty; ZZZ ops; Dispatch and Control (no answer) produced no answers. Chief Pilot made contact with someone in cargo who said they'd send someone to the aircraft to resolve the problem (no show as of 90 minutes after call). As we were approaching duty time limits; we initiated water and cookie service. As we could not positively identify type; quantity; packaging or placement of DG; I requested all the listed items removed. Unfortunately; this took an inordinate amount of time as the 'dynamic flex staffing' ZZZ uses on the ramp for manning meant our ramp crew had to leave to push another aircraft. A single ramp Manager unloaded the entire aft bin on his own; I did not get his name which I am sorry as he deserves acknowledgement.[There should be a] Hazmat/DG hotline. Cargo that answers the phone. Paperwork that makes sense.
More incidents for this aircraft family →
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.