B747-400 flight crew reported cargo improperly handled causing false cargo fire warning on ground.
Synopsis
B747-400 flight crew reported cargo improperly handled causing false cargo fire warning on ground.
Narrative
On the previous day we arrived at the aircraft to operate but the flight turned into a no go due to maintenance issues from the previous flight. In the brief time we were on the aircraft we noticed the cargo of flowers were not covered over the top as has been agreed upon by the company and FAA as a means to help prevent false cargo fire warnings in flight and subsequent diversions. Also in that brief time the aircraft did momentarily have a false cargo fire warning. Before we left the aircraft and after we returned to the hotel I spoke with Company Ops and ZZZ Ops requesting that the flowers be wrapped properly before we depart as scheduled for the following day. With a XX hour delay I relayed my concern that the flowers should be removed from the airplane and stored in the warehouse with proper temperature control and then be wrapped before being put back on the aircraft. When we arrived the next day we learned that the flowers were not removed from the aircraft nor were they wrapped over the top as requested. I was told by both Ops departments that the customer did not want to wrap the flowers and that they are not required to. During preflight I noticed two circuit breakers for the lower lobe aft compartment had been pulled. When I went to ask maintenance they were not aware they had been pulled and after they discussed with each other for a while they pushed the circuit breakers back in. When they did this the aircraft immediately had a false cargo fire warning occur for the lower lobe aft compartment with several accompanying status messages associated with several smoke detectors in the aft lower lobe compartment. Over the next couple of hours maintenance contemplated many things and eventually after the entire compartment and detectors were opened and dried thoroughly the fire tests were re-run several times and passed we commenced the flight with no issues during flight. Report filed for two separate reasons. It appears the circuit breakers were pulled by maintenance to ignore false warnings put out by the airplane while it sat overnight. Despite several phone calls and requests; and with ample time before the flight; the flowers were not wrapped over the top to help decrease the chance of a false cargo fire warning message. Circuit breakers for smoke detectors should not be pulled for any reason other than actual maintenance being done or if those detectors are deferred per the dispatch guide. All customers should be required to wrap the top of all flower pallets in an effort to reduce the possibility of false cargo fire warning messages and possible subsequent in-flight diversions.
Second reporter narrative
When the crew arrived at the jet we noticed most of the cargo was flowers and that those pallets of flowers in the main deck and lower lobes were not wrapped over the top at all in order to help prevent false cargo fire warnings. This flight did not depart due to maintenance issues stemming from the previous leg. In the brief time before we left the aircraft a momentary false fire warning occurred. Before departing the aircraft to go back into rest I called Company Ops and inquired about the lack of wrapping on the pallets of flowers and asked for them to be wrapped properly before we arrive at the aircraft the following day before departure. I made an additional phone call to ZZZ Ops after getting back to the hotel once again requesting that the flowers be wrapped properly before our departure. Subsequently this report will detail events from the next day. Flowers not being properly wrapped as agreed upon by the company and FAA in order to decrease chances of false cargo fire warnings. Customer for this flight apparently does not want to wrap the flowers and is allowed to not wrap them for some reason. In order to decrease the chance of false cargo fire warnings and subsequent diversions all pallets of flowers in any cargo compartment should be wrapped properly in the agreed upon fashion to mitigate this safety issue.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.