B737-900
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 130; Flight Crew Total 21600; Flight Crew Type 14000
Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting; Human-Machine Interface; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
Departing station passenger service closed the cabin door quite early (approximately 15 minutes). We waited for bags to be loaded into both bins. We noticed that the PERF INIT came up before either door was closed. Closed up and pushed back. [We had a] fairly short taxi and no line for takeoff. We departed west and in the turn to our eastbound course a new PERF INIT came up through the ACARS. As the pilot not flying I started the upload but it indicated a partial upload so I erased it. I grabbed the hard copy off the printer and saw an increase of the zero fuel weight from 133.1 to 133.8 due to gate check bags. I keyed in what I thought was 133.8 stated that out loud and executed it. I failed to get a verbal verification from the pilot flying; who was still hand flying at that time. Climb to initial cruise of FL330 was in process and we realized we were good for FL350 early but that was not unusual as we departed approximately 3;000 LBS lighter than plan. We requested the climb to and were granted FL350. When the FMS said we were good to climb to FL370 we asked for that and were given the climb to FL370. Eventually the FMS said we were able for FL390 and we requested that and we're given FL390. The aircraft struggled to make FL390. Not necessarily unusual being a 900ER; but it seemed to struggle more than normal was having a hard time maintaining the commanded speed. The pilot flying took the initiative to start verbalizing the lack of performance and we started looking for something wrong. The pilot flying realized that the weight was wrong which led us to discover the zero fuel weight was wrong. I had keyed in 113.8 instead of 133.8. I corrected that entry and FMS indicated that we were above max altitude which explained the lack of performance. We requested lower and descended to FL370. Rest of the flight was uneventful.
After departure a B737-900ER crew received and entered a revised zero fuel weight of 113.8 in the FMS. At FL390 the weight and balance was reexamined because of sluggish performance and the correct weight of 133.8 entered which required a descent to FL370.