Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 270; Flight Crew Total 14800; Flight Crew Type 1731
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Procedure
Boarding the plane for the flight to ZZZ1; I came upon a battery powered wheelchair at the bottom of the jetway; a filled out 'Battery Powered Wheelchair or Mobility Device Tag' was attached. A couple of ramp agents were there with the unit; they attempted to hand me my copy of the form. Unfortunately; the form was not filled out correctly. The 'Power Disabled' box was checked; but neither of the two boxes below (one is required) was checked. Further; the wheelchair was not correctly prepared; the key had not been removed. I told the ramp agents I couldn't accept the form or the wheelchair - they informed me that the gate agent had filled it out. So; we got the gate agent involved. I pointed out the issues; [agent] removed the key; which was given to the passenger. I also inquired of [another agent] about the second portion of that bullet point: '...toggle switch turned off and taped; battery terminals protected or other action to ensure no accidental activation of device.' [Agent] told me the passenger told him that the wheelchair had been properly prepared. While I wasn't terribly convinced by this; I was able to at least verify that the key was removed. I am not trained in what it takes to turn off the 'toggle switch'; or what that is. I can't go opening panels on people's wheelchairs to verify that the terminals are capped. What I should be able to do is trust that it's been verified by the person signing the form. So; I accepted it albeit reluctantly. However...this is the second incident I've had with wheelchair batteries where the gate agent has used the same verbiage: 'the customer told me that the battery/wheelchair has been properly prepared.' I find this to be less than comforting. The agent signs the form stating that the device has been properly prepared - but takes the customer's word for it?  We're talking about large batteries going into a cargo hold that I can't access in flight. The form says that the *agent* verifies that the preparation is correct - but in both of my experiences this has been exactly the opposite of what is true. And here's the rub: during this flight we experienced severe turbulence. Had the key been left in; or if the 'toggle switch'; whatever that is; or the battery terminals not been prepared; we could easily have found ourselves with a spinning tire being pushed by a powerful motor and battery - and a huge fire risk. I need to be able to trust that this is done correctly. So far; out of the two wheelchair batteries I've had this year; neither one was even close either in action or in paperwork. We must do better. Someone will get violated/fined at best; or we will have an uncontrollable fire at worst.
Air Carrier Captain reported battery powered wheelchair boarded with incomplete HAZMAT documents and wheelchair not configured for transport.