2024-01 · NASA ASRS report 2075821
Air carrier flight crew reported that during an unannounced FAA ramp check the flight crew was informed of the illegal transport of Hazmat cargo due to incorrect documentation. The Hazmat cargo was removed from the flight.
At the gate in ZZZ we were informed that there was HAZMAT in Cargo Bay 1. Ramp couldn't find the NOTOC; so the Captain went to talk to the Ops Agent directly. He received the form that appeared to be the NOTOC and brought it down to the aircraft. It had all the correct information on it; so we departed. When we arrived in ZZZ1; we were met by an FAA Representative that asked us to see the NOTOC. She informed us that we had the incorrect form and that the form we had was a declaration of shipping information that also had a place for Ground Personnel to initial that they gave the NOTOC to the Captain. All pertinent safety information about the HAZMAT is the same between the two forms; but the Captain has to sign the official NOTOC. The FAA representative also queried both Pilots as to the location of the lithium battery fire containment bags.Suggestion: Large bold letters on the top of the NOTOC form that say 'Official NOTOC;' to differentiate it from the 'shipping form' that has the same information; would definitely help; as well as the Crew checking FOM Chapter XX.X.XX to confirm we had the correct form.
During aircraft swap in ZZZ the aircraft we were taking out of ZZZ had HAZMAT (batteries wet filled with alkali) transferred to our aircraft. The HAZMAT originated in ZZZ1. We were delayed due to Ops Agent not finding the HAZMAT documentation. I walked up the jet way; after seeing we were late to speak with the Ops Agent to get the NOTAC paperwork. She handed me what I thought was the Ops Agent NOTAC and she ask that I sign it. It looked different than what I was used to seeing; but had the term NOTAC" on the form; so I signed it; left one with the Ops Agent and took the other copy. We pushed normally and had an uneventful flight to ZZZ2. Upon reaching ZZZ2; we were met at the gate by an FAA Inspector asking to see our NOTAC. We presented the NOTAC form we were given. She said this was the wrong form and asked for my employee number to document the discrepancy. The HAZMAT was removed from the flight in ZZZ2 and we continued our flight from ZZZ2 to ZZZ3. I notified Dispatch and Company Operations Center Chief Pilot of the violation. Company Operations Center Chief Pilot recommended filling out a company safety report and incident report.Suggestion: Ensure Ops and Flight Crew have proper NOTAC documentation prior to flight with HAZMAT onboard."
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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