Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Procedure
Aircraft X had DG 44lbs. Cryogenic liquid-gas needed to be loaded into pit 6. Central Load planning (CLP) decided to hold the item due to size of the pit and items in. Station OPS and Ramp notified not to load the DG and to be held off. Station couldn't find the DG after flight took off. CLP requested AUDIT from arrival station. [Destination] Ramp Supervisor confirmed that DG loaded into pit 4 which it is not showing on [dangerous goods form] and never notified to pilot. DG nitrogen has to be loaded only [in] pit 6. Load was illegal and safety hazard.
Aircraft X was planned by Central Load Planning (CLP) as a standard load; City forward; all transfer bags were planned aft. The mail was planned for pit 3; and 1 item of freight; which happened to be dangerous goods; was planned for pit 6. Upon my review of the loading when I came on duty; I was uncomfortable with the placement of the hazmat; since; due to its SLS code; [nitrogen]; on this particular aircraft; can only be loaded in pit 6. With that; once 15 bags were placed with it; left only 72 [pounds] remaining before exceeded the floor limit. I discussed this with my supervisor. We both decided it would be best to hold it off; and put it on a larger airplane that could accommodate the 15 bag requirement. The loading was revised and ready. At this time the [dangerous goods form] had not yet been printed. Upon review of the final loading; the flight pushed; all pits had transfer bags; which was not the way it was planned; and the hazmat was not onboard. After the flight departed; the [departure airport] cargo planner called me to ask why the hazmat was held off for CLP. I explained the situation; and asked him if we could plan it on the widebody. The hazmat was planned for the bulk pit of [that aircraft]. I received a call from the cargo planner who advised me that the hazmat was unable to be located and could I hold it off. At this time; I asked them both if we could audit the flight inbound; just a hunch; the hazmat was onboard. [Cargo Planner] had called me back to advise me that the cart the hazmat shipment was planned for had been located; and it was empty. The Ramp Supervisor at [destination] called back to advise [my lead] that the hazmat was loaded on the plane; and it was in pit 4. Both errors in the loading of the dangerous goods. I called to advise the Cargo Planner that the shipment had been located.
Two air carrier Load Planners reported loading procedural errors resulted in the illegal transport of HAZMAT cargo.