AN FK100 PIC LEARNS OF DAMAGE IN THE CARGO HOLD AFTER THE CABIN DOOR IS CLOSED FOR A SUPPOSED OR PLANNED ON-TIME DEP FROM DTW; MI.

Narrative

10 MINS PRIOR TO DEP FOR FLT ABC DTW-DFW; COCKPIT CREW IN SEATS; CHKLISTS COMPLETE. GATE AGENT SHUTS DOOR. I NOTED ALL CARGO DOORS OPEN; AFT AVIONICS HATCH OPEN; NO TUG FOR PUSH CONNECTED; AND NO RAMP ACTIVITY FROM MY VANTAGE IN THE CAPT'S SEAT. FOR SOME REASON; I DECIDED TO RE-OPEN THE PAX ENTRY DOOR TO QUERY THE AGENT; JUST BEFORE HE BACKED UP THE JETBRIDGE. THE AGENT QUICKLY INFORMED ME THAT ALL HE KNEW WAS THAT THERE WAS SOME ACFT DAMAGE IN THE BELLY. HE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED BY THE OPS SUPVR TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND THEN INFORM THE CAPT THROUGH THE WINDOW. I PROCEEDED TO THE RAMP TO FIND RAMP PERSONNEL IN THE AFT CARGO BIN; STARTING TO LOAD BAGGAGE. WHEN ASKED; THEY SHOWED ME A WALL PANEL THAT HAD BEEN KNOCKED IN EARLIER; BUT NOW WAS VISIBLY IN ITS NORMAL POS. THIS PANEL DISPLACEMENT WOULD HAVE RENDERED THIS CLASS D COMPARTMENT NON FIRE RETARDANT; HAD IT BEEN LEFT IN ITS EARLIER CONDITION. I WAS SATISFIED THAT EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL; AND NO MAINT ENTRY WAS REQUIRED WHETHER RAMP OR MAINT PERSONNEL RESOLVED THE PROB. I DID NOT SEE ANYONE FROM MAINT. THE ISSUE HERE IS THE FACT THAT THE AGENTS WOULD HAVE WITHHELD THAT INFO/DECISION FROM THE CAPT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE AN ON-TIME DEP. NOT UNTIL I RE-OPENED THE PAX ENTRY DOOR AND TALKED WITH THE AGENT; WAS THAT INFO PROVIDED TO ME. I; LIKE ALL CAPTS I KNOW; STRIVE FOR ON-TIME DEPS. THE PROB IS THIS PREVAILING ATTITUDE AMONG MANY STATION PERSONNEL -- PRESSURED OR NOT -- IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT THREATENS THE SAFETY OF PAX/CREW.