British Aerospace Plc HS 748-2A, VH-IPB

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 tailstand 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 tailstand 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.