What happened
On 25 April 2010, a Cameron Z-425-LW hot air balloon, registration A6-JBR, was conducting a passenger scenic flight in the Al Ain region of the United Arab Emirates. During the flight, the aircraft encountered increasingly unstable weather characterized by fluctuating and high wind speeds. GPS data indicated that wind speeds eventually exceeded the operational limitations specified in the aircraft's flight manual.
In response to the deteriorating conditions, the pilot attempted to land the balloon forward of a large sand dune. During the descent, the basket made contact with trees and subsequently struck the ground at a high speed of approximately 23 knots. As the basket traversed the crest of the sand dune, the momentum and unstable attitude of the craft caused three occupants—two passengers and one crew member—to be thrown from the basket. The impact with the basket structure resulted in 2 fatalities and 1 serious injury.
The investigation
An investigation by the GCAA AAIS examined the sequence of events, the meteorological conditions, and the mechanical performance of the aircraft. Investigators analyzed GPS tracks, which showed a steady increase in wind speed leading up to the impact. The inquiry also scrutinized the functionality of the Rapid Defentially System (RDS), noting a delay between the pilot's activation of the vent valve and the actual deflation of the envelope.
Technical inspections of the A6-JBR revealed damage to the basket's lower corner, consistent with tree strikes, and structural tension failures in the nylon webbing and steel frame caused by the force of the hard landing. The investigation also reviewed the operator's flight planning processes and the pilot's previous experience with high-wind operations.