B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting; Training / Qualification; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Company Policy; Procedure
Upon our arrival; Crew Chief came to the cockpit and inquired about how the aircraft handled during our flight. An odd question relayed in a concerned manner. My first thought was that we were missing a big piece of airplane; maybe cargo door. I asked the obvious follow up question; 'why do you ask?' Crew Chief then informed me that according to his paperwork all cargo should have been loaded in the AFT compartment and when opened he found it completely empty. Upon further inspection he found all cargo loaded in the FWD compartment. I checked my TPS/load planning paperwork and found the plan was for 1900lbs of cargo to be loaded in the AFT closeout showed 1110lbs of cargo with no indication of fwd or aft.I then called Dispatch; he transferred me to Loads. When I told the Agent of the problem she looked in the computer and said all cargo was loaded in the AFT. I said yes according to the computer; my TPS and the arriving Crew Chief's paperwork; but that was NOT the case; Actual loading was in the FWD. She then realized the seriousness of the situation and transferred me to her supervisor. I relayed the information to him and he said he would be filing a report on the matter to find out what happened.We had a light after Thanksgiving load of only 105 SOB and a light cargo load. Load agent ran the numbers with cargo in the FWD and found we were still within a safe CG. How much cargo weight would it take on this aircraft to create an unsafe situation? Would a full load of PAX help or hinder the situation? How about fuel burn on a long flight? Several people aware of the event are of the attitude that since it was a light load and the CG was within limits that this was a 'non-event' 'your cargo load wasn't enough to affect anything' was a brilliant quote from a Chief Pilot. A light cargo and PAX load should be the only thing that saves a aircraft; passengers and crew from a potentially serious or disastrous event.Obviously we need to find out who is responsible for loading and checking the aircraft. I believe the ground crew in that station is from a wholly owned subsidiary. Is it their habit to load cargo in the FWD on the smaller aircraft? Did they fall back on habit or blatantly disregard loading documents?The load closeout we receive in the cockpit does not show FWD or AFT for cargo weights just total weight and a breakdown for live animals and restricted articles. Maybe we should receive that information on our closeout. Although that wouldn't have helped in this situation since all the 'paperwork' was correct. I would like to be contacted as to the follow up and resolution of this event.
After gate arrival; a Ramp Agent notified a B737-800 Captain that all cargo had been loaded in the forward bay while the weight and balance indicated all cargo was in the aft. The previous station ramp crew may not have been familiar with this aircraft type.