Incident Overview
On November 4, 2023, at 0850 mountain standard time, an Aerostar International Inc. RX-8 balloon, registration N50466, was involved in an accident near Page, Arizona. The balloon was not damaged. One passenger sustained serious injuries; the pilot and another passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Flight and Landing Sequence
According to the pilot, the balloon crew arrived around 0630 and prepared the envelope for flight. Both burners showed normal operating pressures of about 110 psi, exceeding the manufacturer's minimum of 44 psi. Each burner ignited properly using its piezoelectric starter. After a safety briefing, the balloon launched at 0800 for its first uneventful flight. Following landing, the balloon was reboarded with two new passengers, and a second safety briefing was given.
During the second flight, the balloon ascended to 6,200 feet before the pilot initiated a descent to find favorable winds. After a wind shift, the pilot selected an alternate landing area. Clearing powerlines, he planned to land on a road between single-level apartments.
Burner Failure and Hard Landing
About 10 yards beyond the powerlines, while maintaining level flight, the pilot attempted to initiate a burn with either burner, but neither ignited. Multiple restart attempts with the piezoelectric ignition system failed. A secondary ignition source—a butane lighter—also failed. The balloon began descending toward the intended landing site. The pilot advised passengers to prepare for a hard landing.
The basket impacted the top edge of a parked vehicle, causing it to rotate beyond horizontal. As the basket righted itself, one passenger fell out from about six to ten feet above the ground, sustaining serious injuries. The balloon and basket were undamaged.
Post-Impact Events
Immediately after the accident, the weight reduction from the missing passenger caused the balloon to ascend. The pilot activated the blast valve, and one burner began functioning. He surmised that the butane lighter may have successfully ignited the pilot light before impact. He then opened the metering valve to maintain a small flame. The balloon landed uneventfully. Upon landing, fuel gauges indicated approximately 50% to 55% fuel remaining in each tank.
Burner Relighting Procedures
The owner's manual for the Aerostar International Inc. RX-8 outlined burner relighting steps: open metering valve for low flow, use igniter to relight, maintain metering valve as pilot light, check pilot light valves, continue if relit, or land if impossible. If relight is impossible, prepare for emergency landing.
Post-Accident Inspection
The burners and ignition systems were removed for inspection and test runs. Operational and functional checks, including ignition system testing, revealed no defects. The reported malfunction could not be duplicated. The propane tanks were not tested. The burners were configured with one 18-gallon propane tank each, with no cross-feed between burners or tanks.