AN ACR MD88 PLT FOUND THAT HAZARDOUS MATERIAL HAD SPILLED IN HIS CARGO COMPARTMENT. THE LIQUID WAS LABELED NOT HAZARDOUS. HAZARDOUS CARGO PROB; PROC.

Narrative

AFTER ARRIVING AT CVG FROM JAN; I WAS INFORMED BY MY ACR'S SAFETY COORDINATOR; MR X; THAT AN UNDECLARED HAZARDOUS CARGO SUBSTANCE HAD BEEN DISCOVERED WITH ABOUT 1/2 GALLON SPILLED IN THE MID CARGO COMPARTMENT OF THE ACFT. MR X STATED THAT THE SUBSTANCE APPEARED TO BE SOME SORT OF WOOD FINISHING PRODUCT THAT WAS CAUSTIC. HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS BEING FULLY INVESTIGATED BY MY ACR. IN LIGHT OF LAST MAY'S DC9 ACCIDENT IN FLORIDA; IT DOES NOT REASSURE ME THAT ITEMS CAN BE SHIPPED EITHER KNOWINGLY OR UNKNOWINGLY THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES TO MY PAX; MY CREW; AND MYSELF. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR HAS NOT HEARD WHAT THE SUBSTANCE WAS; BUT IT WAS A WOOD FINISHING PRODUCT. IT HAD BEEN SENT BY UNITED STATES POST FROM NILAND; MI; TO A WOMAN IN MISSISSIPPI LABELED NOT HAZARDOUS. THE RECIPIENT MAILED IT BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER. CARGO HANDLERS IN CVG FOUND; BY A STRANGE ODOR; THAT THE SUBSTANCE HAD LEAKED. THE ACFT WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN OFF OF THE GATE AND OTS FOR ABOUT 4 HRS FOR A CLEAN-UP. THE ACR IS PURSUING THE MATTER. THE RPTR HAS NOT HEARD MORE FROM HIS ACR NOR ANYTHING FROM THE FAA. HE IS NOW AWARE OF THE FAA SAFETY HOTLINE.