Accident Overview
On August 20, 2011, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Lindstrand 180A balloon, registration N75213, was being prepared for a revenue sightseeing flight at a park in Lewiston, Maine. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries, three passengers and one ground crewmember received minor injuries, and three other passengers were uninjured. The balloon itself was not damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Pilot's Account
The pilot reported that after inflating the balloon, he unstrapped the inflation tank and was making room for a seventh passenger to board the basket. While moving the inflation tank, "the burner hose popped off the tank." Propane gas then leaked from the hose and ignited into a fireball. The pilot sustained second-degree burns to his face and arms and was hospitalized for more than 48 hours.
Witness Observation
A witness stated that while passengers were boarding the basket, the pilot bent over and his arm contacted the line of a gas tank. The connection "instantly separated," causing gas to spray upward about 6 to 8 feet before igniting.
FAA Inspection Findings
An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the balloon after the accident. A rubber o-ring on the inflation tank valve was half-exposed and out of its normal position. Additionally, there was no approval documentation for the installation of the inflation tank. The balloon's owner stated that he was unaware the tank was not approved and planned to remove it and replace it with a tank approved by an FAA repair station.