Thursday, October 26, 2017

Lindstrand LBL240A, C-FCKX, Sundance Balloons -and- Ultramagic SA T210, N123UT, operated by Pacific Rim Adventures Inc., operator does business as Sky's The Limit Balloon Adventure: Accident occurred October 06, 2017 in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Albuquerque, New Mexico


C-FCKX Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

C-FCKX  Investigation Docket  - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

C-FCKX Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf 

Analysis 

The Ultramagic balloon pilot reported that, during a balloon festival, after a local sightseeing flight, he landed the balloon and decided to wait for the ground crew to locate the balloon before deflating. He added that, as the balloon was deflating, he "heard a basket sliding across the top of [his] balloon." The balloon rotated counter-clockwise, and the balloon basket, still loaded with passengers, rolled upside down.

The Ultramagic balloon sustained substantial damage to the burner rack. One passenger sustained serious injuries.

The Lindstrand balloon pilot reported that, during landing, there were two balloons in his flightpath. He added that he climbed and passed the first balloon but was unable to pass the second balloon, and "I brushed him with my basket on the top of his balloon." He landed the balloon without further incident.

The Ultramagic pilot and the Lindstrand operations manager reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloons that would have precluded normal operation. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a balloon on the ground during landing.

Findings

Aircraft
Altitude - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Monitoring other aircraft - Pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Aircraft - Effect on operation (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing

Collision during takeoff/land (Defining event)

Location: Albuquerque, NM
Accident Number:  GAA18CA016B
Date & Time:  10/06/2017, 0800 MDT
Registration: C-FCKX
Aircraft: LINDSTRAND LBL240A
Aircraft Damage: None
Defining Event: Ground collision
Injuries: 13 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Aerial Observation - Sightseeing

The Ultramagic balloon pilot reported that, during a balloon festival, after a local sightseeing flight, he landed the balloon and decided to wait for the ground crew to locate the balloon before deflating. He added that, as the balloon was deflating, he "heard a basket sliding across the top of [his] balloon". The balloon rotated counter-clockwise and the balloon basket, still loaded with passengers, rolled upside down.

The Ultramagic balloon sustained substantial damage to the burner rack. One passenger sustained serious injuries.

The Lindstrand balloon pilot reported that, during landing, there were two balloons in his flight path. He added that he climbed and passed the first balloon, but was unable to pass the second. He reported that, "I brushed him with my basket on the top of his balloon." He landed the balloon without further incident.

The Ultramagic pilot and the Lindstrand operations manager reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloons that would have precluded normal operation. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Foreign; Private
Age: 28, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: None
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Balloon
Restraint Used: None
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/02/2014
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/11/2017
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 743 hours (Total, all aircraft), 40 hours (Total, this make and model), 734 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 40 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: LINDSTRAND
Registration: C-FCKX
Model/Series: LBL240A
Aircraft Category: Balloon
Year of Manufacture: 1995
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Balloon; Normal
Serial Number: 165
Landing Gear Type: 
Seats: 13
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 02/23/2017, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 4270 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 1 None
Airframe Total Time: 1135.2 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: 
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: 
Registered Owner: Sundance Balloons (2008) Ltd
Rated Power: 
Operator: Sundance Balloons (2008) Ltd
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Does Business As: Sundance Balloons
Operator Designator Code: 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KABQ, 5314 ft msl
Observation Time: 1252 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 186°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 1300 ft agl
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 16°C
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 8000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots, 130°
Visibility (RVR): 
Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV): 
Precipitation and Obscuration:  No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Albuquerque, NM
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Albuquerque, NM
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0738 MDT
Type of Airspace: Class G 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: None
Passenger Injuries: 12 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 13 None
Latitude, Longitude:  35.198056, -106.596389 (est)


N123UT  Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

N123UT  Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

N123UT Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

http://registry.faa.gov/N123UT

Analysis

The Ultramagic balloon pilot reported that, during a balloon festival, after a local sightseeing flight, he landed the balloon and decided to wait for the ground crew to locate the balloon before deflating. He added that, as the balloon was deflating, he "heard a basket sliding across the top of [his] balloon." The balloon rotated counter-clockwise, and the balloon basket, still loaded with passengers, rolled upside down.

The Ultramagic balloon sustained substantial damage to the burner rack. One passenger sustained serious injuries.

The Lindstrand balloon pilot reported that, during landing, there were two balloons in his flightpath. He added that he climbed and passed the first balloon but was unable to pass the second balloon, and "I brushed him with my basket on the top of his balloon." He landed the balloon without further incident.

The Ultramagic pilot and the Lindstrand operations manager reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloons that would have precluded normal operation. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The other pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a balloon on the ground during landing. 

Findings

Personnel issues
Monitoring other aircraft - Pilot of other aircraft (Cause)

Environmental issues
Aircraft - Effect on operation (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Other

Ground collision (Defining event)

Location: Albuquerque, NM
Accident Number: GAA18CA016A
Date & Time: 10/06/2017, 0800 MDT
Registration: N123UT
Aircraft: ULTRAMAGIC SA T210
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Ground collision
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor, 10 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Aerial Observation - Sightseeing 

The Ultramagic balloon pilot reported that, during a balloon festival, after a local sightseeing flight, he landed the balloon and decided to wait for the ground crew to locate the balloon before deflating. He added that, as the balloon was deflating, he "heard a basket sliding across the top of [his] balloon". The balloon rotated counter-clockwise and the balloon basket, still loaded with passengers, rolled upside down.

The Ultramagic balloon sustained substantial damage to the burner rack. One passenger sustained serious injuries.

The Lindstrand balloon pilot reported that, during landing, there were two balloons in his flight path. He added that he climbed and passed the first balloon, but was unable to pass the second. He reported that, "I brushed him with my basket on the top of his balloon." He landed the balloon without further incident.

The Ultramagic pilot and the Lindstrand operations manager reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloons that would have precluded normal operation.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 62, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Balloon
Restraint Used: None
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/12/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 01/21/2016
Flight Time:   (Estimated) 11028 hours (Total, all aircraft), 2148 hours (Total, this make and model), 10992 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 105 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 42 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: ULTRAMAGIC SA
Registration: N123UT
Model/Series: T210 NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Balloon
Year of Manufacture: 2007
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Balloon
Serial Number: 210/42
Landing Gear Type: 
Seats: 12
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/24/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2800 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 1 None
Airframe Total Time: 815.4 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: 
ELT: 
Engine Model/Series: 
Registered Owner: PACIFIC RIM ADVENTURES INC DBA
Rated Power: 
Operator: PACIFIC RIM ADVENTURES INC DBA
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Does Business As: Sky's The Limit Balloon Adventure
Operator Designator Code: 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KABQ, 5314 ft msl
Observation Time: 1252 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 186°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 1300 ft agl
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 16°C
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 8000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots, 130°
Visibility (RVR): 
Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV): 
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Albuquerque, NM
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Albuquerque, NM
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 0710 MDT
Type of Airspace: Class G 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious, 10 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor, 10 None
Latitude, Longitude: 35.198056, -106.596389 (est)

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