2024-08 · NASA ASRS report 2152192
A321 flight crew reported receiving the Load Closeout and discovering that there was a wheelchair battery in the aft cargo compartment. The flight crew returned to the gate to get more information on the battery and afterwards completed the proper paperwork.
At approximately XA:45; crew made contact with Dispatch in regards to a battery that was loaded onto the flight without proper paperwork. The load closeout gave notification of the battery on board. However; the crew was not informed of what type of battery or the circumstances surrounding the loaded cargo. As per procedures and the FOM; depending on what kind of battery and its container; there must be precautions made. The crew made contact with Operations and they acknowledged the placement of a battery but could not remember the details. The crew and Dispatch agreed that returning back to the gate to ensure the precautions and type of battery onboard are given. The crew had to escalate the event to ensure answers were given. The crew stated that the ZZZ Chief (Ground Chief?) was notified and the battery situation was resolved. Procedure was not followed with relaying to the crew if battery was in fact classified as hazardous material before pushing back. Perhaps complacency could have been a contributing factor. Suggestions: These types of events have a large impact on the operational smoothness. The flight had to return to the gate for information and was resolved by XC:10. That is an hour and a half of time to correct a mistake. On top of it all; at XC:15; the crew still awaits to be brought back up to release fuel. Several notifications/requests were made to Operations and the fueling team. In the event that an incident occurred with the hypothetical hazardous material/battery; this information is a must for the crew and Dispatch. This isn't just policy; it's about safety.
Pushed back from Gate XX; started the aircraft engines; and began the taxi out to Runway XXC. The load closeout came across the printer and after reviewing it; the First Officer (FO) stated to me that we have one wheelchair battery in the aft cargo compartment. This was the first discovery and the only news that we had a wheelchair battery onboard the aircraft. I pulled off the taxiway and parked on the Ramp and called Operations on the radio asking for more information about the wheelchair battery. They did not know anything about it! They said they would call down to the Gate XX and see what they could find. About ten minutes later Operations called us back and said that the gate didn't know anything about the battery either; but the ramp baggage handlers said they did in fact load a battery in the aft cargo but they did not know anything about it. Operations could not provide me any more information than that. I called the Dispatcher who was working my flight; informing him of a wheelchair battery we had stowed in the aft cargo compartment but that I did not know what kind of battery it was; nor was Operations able to provide me any information about it; just that they loaded one. The Dispatcher then told me I had no other choice but to go back to the gate to get this information about the battery figured out.Arrived back at Gate XX; and I was immediately met by a Supervisor in cockpit. I informed him we had a battery stowed in aft cargo compartment and we needed to know what kind of battery it is. He immediately told me he didn't know. I advised him I can't leave until we find out; so he begrudgingly went down to the aft cargo compartment; looked at the battery; and came back up to the cockpit. The supervisor went on to explain to us; as he showed us a picture on his phone from a website; telling us; that this picture of a battery on the website looks similar to the wheelchair battery that he saw in our cargo compartment. Therefore; since the website says it's a lithium battery; then that too is what we have on the aircraft; a 'LITHIUM BATTERY.' As there are many different kinds of lithium batteries I asked him; What kind of lithium battery is it?" He responded; "I do not know." I informed him that I needed to know that and the Supervisor left the cockpit and went back down on the Ramp to the aft cargo compartment again. He then removed the battery from the wheelchair; brought it back up to the cockpit; and slammed it down on the aircraft cockpit pedestal and said; "Here's the battery." The battery was sealed in a plastic case and did not have any markings on it; so I again asked him; "What kind of battery it is?" The Supervisor responded to me again; "I don't know." So I replied; "If you don't know then how would I know; I do not have a college degree in batteries?" The Supervisor then took the battery and disappeared. About 20 minutes later; the Supervisor returned to the cockpit and began pushing me to take the flight by telling me that they are going to; "Kick the handicapped passenger off the airplane and in doing so; they will remove her wheelchair and the battery with her; and the problem is solved." I told him we will absolutely NOT remove her because we do not know what kind of battery is in her wheelchair! Approximately 20 minutes after that; the Ramp Crew Chief shows up with some paperwork confirming that the wheelchair battery was in fact a "SEALED LEAD ACID BATTERY." Ironically it was not the "lithium battery" that the Supervisor so adamantly told me it was; as indicated from the FAA-approved website on his phone. We stowed the lead acid battery appropriately as outlined in the Flight Operations Manual and then departed over an hour late. Taxiing out we received a message over the printer from the Dispatcher who was working my flight; "Just to give you a heads up; I'm probably going to file a report against Operations for this mess. Could have been informed after you two left. Procedure wasn't followed. Andit seems the struggle continues."The problems arose from outside the aircraft from many company personnel at many different levels; who were either unwilling or unable to do their jobs. The first notification of batteries in the cargo compartment should not be discovered in the Load Closeout."
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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