PLT OF ATX SMT CARGO ACFT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURB CAUSING THE CARGO TO SHIFT AND BREAK THE REAR CABIN WINDOW.
Synopsis
PLT OF ATX SMT CARGO ACFT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURB CAUSING THE CARGO TO SHIFT AND BREAK THE REAR CABIN WINDOW.
Narrative
DSNDING FROM ALT TURB OCCURRED THAT WAS NOT FORECASTED. A COMPLETE WX BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED THROUGH THE DUAT SVC PRIOR TO FLT. THE TURB CAUSED A CARGO LOAD TO SHIFT. WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE CARGO A PIPE CONTACTED THE REAR WINDOW OF THE SMT TWIN ACFT CAUSING IT TO CRACK. THE NOISE ALERTED ME TO THE WINDOW. THERE WERE NOT ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE FLT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ACFT. A NORMAL LNDG FOLLOWED. POOR JUDGEMENT WAS MADE WHEN I ASSUMED THAT SEVERE TURB WILL ONLY BE ENCOUNTERED IF IT'S FORECASTED. TURB CAN OCCUR ANYTIME; ANYWHERE AND THE LACK OF FORECASTING IT IN A WX BRIEFING SHOULD NOT LEAD ONE TO DISMISS IT. A RECOMMENDATION IS ALSO MADE IN USING A CARGO TARP INSTEAD OF A CARGO NET TO SECURE A LOAD. NETTING CAN STILL ALLOW SMALLER PIECES TO SLIP THROUGH WHERE AS A TARP IS MORE LIKELY TO SECURE EVERYTHING UNDER IT. MOST CARGO RUNS ARE TIME CRITICAL. CUSTOMERS PAY A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY TO TRANSPORT THEIR CARGO; AND THEY DO SO BECAUSE THEY NEED IT THERE IMMEDIATELY. THIS; CONSEQUENTLY; PLACES ADDED STRESS ON THE PLT TO PERFORM HIS JOB EXPEDITIOUSLY.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.