Head AX9-118 near Galt, CA — 2019-08-09
- Date
- 2019-08-09
- Location
- Galt, CA, USA
- Aircraft
- Head AX9-118
- Registration
- N2027S
- Category
- Balloon
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Fatalities
- 0
- Phase of flight
- Ground
Probable cause
A loss of control following an adverse wind encounter.
NTSB narrative
The pilot was giving rides during a balloon festival while the balloon remained tethered to three cars. The wind increased, and the pilot decided to stop performing flights. As he was in the process of deflating the envelope, a wind gust caused the balloon to ascend rapidly. The ground crew let go of the ropes, and the balloon ascended to the end of the tethers. One of the eye bolt attachments from the basket to the rope broke, allowing the rope to come loose, followed by the failure of a second eye bolt attachment, which allowed the second rope to come loose. At that point, the ground crew was attempting to hold the third rope when the pilot told them to cut it loose. The pilot applied the burner to heat the envelope and rise above powerlines; however, as the crew cut the remaining rope, the basket twisted, which closed the throat of the envelope. The balloon continued toward a nearby open field, where the pilot chose to land. The pilot stated that, with the envelope only partially inflated, the descent was fast and the balloon landed hard. He turned off the burners and the balloon envelope deflated onto its side.
Analysis
- Primary failure mode
- Loss of control
- First missed decision gate
- Pilot could have deflated the balloon before wind picked it up.
NTSB coding
Evidence available
- Photos
- 3 docket documents