Air carrier flight crew reported a wheelchair which exceeded the Lithium Ion battery limitation was loaded on the aircraft. Wheelchair was unloaded before gate departure.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported a wheelchair which exceeded the Lithium Ion battery limitation was loaded on the aircraft. Wheelchair was unloaded before gate departure.
Narrative
On Day 0; Dangerous Goods were loaded onto our flight from ZZZ Airport. This was a wheelchair that had a lithium-ion battery of 480wh; which exceeds the 300wh allowed in our FOM. Captain was NOT notified and only discovered when the flight attendant came up to flight deck to notify us that cabin was secure and two wheelchairs were onboard; one that passenger brought their own wheelchair that was battery powered. This happened after we closed the passenger door and blocked out at XA:48. It was then that I had looked up the policy on boarding passenger's own wheelchair in the FOM that I discovered that we may have a problem. I asked the ramp agent to reopen the cargo door and check the wattage of the battery on said wheelchair. After a few minutes he told me the wattage said 480wh. I then asked him if the battery could be removed from the wheelchair easily (not requiring any tools) and he told me he could remove the battery pretty easily. I then notified my dispatcher to see if there were any exceptions and he did not think so and suggested I speak with a supervisor; which I did. It was then determined that further consultation was required from another supervisor and a phone call was made to him. Finally; at XC:05; I was told to remove the wheelchair and the passenger decided to stay behind with her wheelchair. This terribly upset the passenger to the point of tears. We blocked back in at XC:05z. Finally; we blocked back out at XC22 and wheels up at XC35.Cause: I believe the cause of this event was a misinformed passenger regarding the ability to take her specific wheelchair onboard an aircraft. The passenger had successfully taken this same wheelchair to ZZZ on another company aircraft a few days prior coming from ZZZ1 [Airport] and did not know it would be a problem this time.Suggestions: Ramp agents need to be more aware of the danger lithium-ion batteries are on wheelchairs and notify the Captain whenever an electric wheelchair is being loaded on the aircraft as early as possible.
Second reporter narrative
Was operating a quick turn. Rampers loaded DG (Dangerous Goods) (wheelchair with lithuim battery above FOM limits) in aft cargo without any crew member knowledge. Was not known by capt. (Captain) and FO (First Officer) until after door closed; and the lead FA (Flight Attendant) told us of the dangerous goods; and shut the cabin door. After blockout; the Captain and myself referred to the FOM to review the policy on wheelchairs with lithium batteries. We queried ramp to gather more information on the wheelchair. Information we asked for was location; nonspillable/lithium; and the Watt Hours the battery was capable of storing. The wheelchair was in aft cargo; had a detachable battery; and the battery was rated at 480Wh. Captain got on the phone with our dispatcher; while I began to ask ops how the wheelchair made it onboard. Information ops was giving us and what the FOM stated were two different outcomes. Eventually; the captain decided to get on the phone with a supervisor. While he was on the phone; I made a few announcement to the passengers on the matter; as well as private calls to the flight attendants to make sure they were still in the loop. During this; ops was telling me that Dispatch said the wheelchair was okay to fly. The supervisor agreed with the crew; saying that the wheelchair cannot go and to wait until he can get a definite answer. He contacted the supervisor; who called another supervisor; to give us a final answer of the wheelchair needs to be off the aircraft. We then made a gate return (never pushed back but closed door). The customer with the wheelchair decided to leave the aircraft; as well as a few others who were going to miss connections. Cause: According to ramp guidelines in ZZZ [Airport]; the wheelchair was found within specs to be onboard. However; it was found to be above the approved power limit. Failure to notify the PIC that DG was loaded onboard and only tell the FA. Cause of delay was Dispatch telling ramp that we could take the wheelchair; while the supervisor and other managerial sources told us we could now. Poor communication on all levels lead to the delay and loading of DGSuggestions: To ensure ramp personnel have the same requirements to what can be loaded onboard our aircraft. Ensure that they inform the PIC when a DG is loaded so we can ensure how to properly handle the situation. Have a set procedure on who to contact in the event; rather than getting 5 different answers from 5 different people.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.