Pilot Debrief

FIREFLY BALLOONS, INC FIREFLY 10 near Temecula, CA — 2013-11-09

Final reportWPR14LA049
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Date
2013-11-09
Location
Temecula, CA, USA
Aircraft
FIREFLY BALLOONS, INC FIREFLY 10
Registration
N1623L
Category
Balloon
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to follow the Landing checklist and his inadvertent contact with the blast valve after landing, which released propane that was then ignited by an undetermined source.

NTSB narrative

After a 1-hour local sightseeing flight, the commercial pilot landed the balloon, disembarked some passengers, and kept a few passengers on board as he moved the balloon to a trailer. The pilot reported that, after setting the balloon down on the trailer, he extinguished the burner's pilot light and then took the burner down from the flight position to put it in the storage bag attached to the side of the basket. While putting the burner in the bag, he bumped the blast valve, and the burner then released propane, which ignited and resulted in a fire; the ignition source was not determined. The pilot and four passenger sustained serious injuries. The Landing checklist in the Balloon Flight Manual stated, in part, that pilots should ensure that all of the valves were firmly closed before touchdown and should bleed all of the fuel lines after landing. However, a postaccident interview with the pilot revealed the he did not shut off the appropriate valves or bleed the system of gas after he extinguished the pilot light. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot's failure to follow the Landing checklist allowed the burner to release propane when he inadvertently bumped the blast valve after landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not shut off appropriate valves or bleed gas after extinguishing pilot light.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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