Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The passenger's failure to comply with the briefing administered by the pilot. Factors were the passenger's physical impairment due to an injury sustained during the initial ground impact and the high wind condition.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On August 6, 2000, at 0800 central daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 8, hot-air balloon, N9091R, sustained minor damage during a hard landing in a field near Catoosa, Oklahoma. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured, and one passenger sustained a serious injury. The balloon was registered to and operated by the Reno Vet Center Inc., Reno, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated in a staging area near Tulsa, Oklahoma at 0715.
According to the pilot and passengers, the pilot briefed the passengers to expect a rough landing due to surface winds of 8-10 knots. During the approach, the pilot intentionally "touched the top of the trees with the basket to slow the descent." The pilot reported that "the flame went out and then was relit by a passenger" as he touched the top of the trees with the basket. He then briefed the passengers "for the third time to bend knees, face forward, and hold on." The balloon initially contacted the ground hard and bounced back into the air. During the second ground impact, a passenger was ejected from the basket, and subsequently, the balloon's basket "rolled over him." The passenger who was ejected reported that "he felt pain the first time the basket hit [and] let go." The passengers added that during the pre-landing briefing the pilot stated that "they could have a rough landing," and that "the pilot did a good job landing."
The Balloon Works Firefly 8 Flight Manual, section 5, paragraph 5.1, states that the "maximum demonstrated wind speed at landing during certification tests was 7 knots." In the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), under the section titled Recommendations, the pilot stated "passenger could have held on more tightly. In future will only fly if [the] surface winds forecast at 7 mph or less."
FAA inspectors, who examined the balloon, reported that the envelope sustained a tear 2-3 feet in length.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW00LA224