The HS-748 aircraft was engaged in a night freight operation and was under charter to a freight carrier. The aircraft had been loaded with 4 LD type containers and an amount of freight. During the post loading walk-around, the first officer had difficulty removing the tail stand from the aircraft. The first officer asked the loading staff if the aircraft was loaded in accordance with the load sheet. The loading staff indicated that the aircraft had been loaded according to the sheet. The first officer consulted the pilot in command and ascertained that the loaded centre-of-gravity of the aircraft was towards the middle of the allowable centre-of-gravity envelope. The crew then removed the tail stand and completed the before start checks and started the engines in preparation for taxi.
Shortly after the engines had been started, the loading staff approached the aircraft and signalled to the pilot in command that they wished to speak to him. The pilot in command shut down one engine and dispatched the first officer to speak with the loading staff. After speaking with the loading staff, the first officer signalled to the pilot in command to shut down the other engine.
Subsequent inquiries by the loading staff revealed that an incorrect container had been loaded on board the aircraft. These inquiries revealed that the aircraft had been loaded with an empty LD container in the forward position. The correct LD container for the forward position was expected to weigh 1120 kg. The aircraft had been loaded incorrectly.
The freight carrier instituted an internal investigation that revealed a number of factors contributing to the incorrect loading. These factors included an absence of loading documentation for both the loading supervisor and the pallet loader operator. There was also an absence of loading documentation for flight crew that indicated the container identification and disposition.