Summary
On October 22, 2016, at approximately 0838 eastern daylight time, an Aerostar International, Inc. RX-8 balloon (registration N9015Y) incurred minor damage while landing in a field near Mount Ulla, North Carolina. The balloon was operated by Up Up Away Hot Air Balloon Company as a revenue sightseeing flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot and three passengers sustained no injuries, while one passenger was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 53 minutes earlier from Statesville Regional Airport (SVH), Statesville, North Carolina.
Accident Details
The balloon was part of the Carolina BalloonFest. Prior to the flight, the pilot attended a briefing and was informed that wind would pick up after 0900. He briefed passengers on landing stance, holding handles inside the basket, and keeping arms and legs inside.
After takeoff, the balloon drifted east-southeasterly. Due to time aloft, the pilot decided to land in a hay field. Before landing, he warned passengers to expect a "bouncy and hard landing." On approach, he noticed increased surface winds and instructed passengers to face the direction of travel with knees bent, and that the basket might tip. He also told them to put down cameras and hold on with both hands.
The husband of the injured passenger stated his wife was using one hand to secure her camera and the other to hold the basket railing. Just before touchdown, the pilot pulled the deflation line and reported a hard landing. After ground contact, the basket leaned on its side, and the passenger holding with one hand put her arms outside the basket. The pilot then told everyone to keep arms and legs inside; another passenger grabbed her. The basket became airborne briefly, then made another ground contact. The balloon dragged a short distance before stopping. The injured passenger complained of pain, the pilot called 911, and she was transported to a hospital with a fractured vertebra and wrist.
Meteorological Information
Weather reports from SVH indicated wind at departure was from 260° at 4 knots. Between 0745 and 0825, wind remained from the southwest at 3–4 knots. The observation at 0845, about 7 minutes after the accident, showed wind from 280° at 8 knots.
Passenger Briefings and Management
The FAA Balloon Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-11A, 2008) discusses landing as the most critical maneuver, noting that most ballooning accidents and injuries occur on landing. It also addresses passenger briefings, stating that the instruction "hold on tight" is often the least followed. Passengers may not be mentally prepared for the shock of a balloon contacting the ground. They should be reminded to hold on tight and shown correct places to hold, such as factory-built handles or locations the pilot considers appropriate.