Q400
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Manuals; Human Factors
During passenger boarding; a passenger brought a large case on board. When the Flight Attendant (FA) told him that the case could not fit in the overhead bin; the passenger told her that the case could not go on the cart because it contained lithium batteries. During their conversation; the FA learned that the case contained a drone with a lithium battery installed along with six spare batteries (4 batteries @ 81 wH and 2 smaller batteries of unknown capacity). We could find no information in the FOM about the carriage of lithium batteries other than in Flight Crew Information File 2016-0043 which only addressed pilot battery packs. Dispatch and Ops didn't have any pertinent information. FA manual states station agents are responsible for ensuring battery does not exceed limits; is labeled and properly documented; removed from the devise and packaged accordingly. This did not get done as the agents were not even aware of the batteries. I am also concerned by my perception as to the lack of clear guidance on this at the station level. FA manual also states that FA SHALL ensure battery is stored in overhead bin above the customer. (This was impossible due to the relative size of his case to our overhead bins). What is unclear from the FA manual is if there is a maximum number of batteries or a cumulative total of wH allowed. (7 batteries total with a combined wH rating of over 400 wH). We called the Duty Officer for insight; but he had none; and by this time; Operations had already decided to pull the passenger and his batteries. Still; this question needs resolution. Kudos to both FAs for their tenacity to ensure that the issue was addressed and for their expertise in finding the pertinent guidance to resolve the issue. To the credit of the passenger; he did not attempt to put the case on the cart. Had he done so; no one but he would have known that the batteries were in the aft hold: a disturbing consequence on several levels.While the delay and the resulting chaos on display resulting from the lack of information was embarrassing; several passengers thanked us for our vigilance and attitude towards safety.
Q400 Captain reported concern over lack of information on restrictions and regulations regarding carriage of lithium batteries in the cabin.