What happened
On December 7, 2019, at 9:25 local time, an Ultramagic T-210 hot air balloon, registration EC-LDY, operated by Globus Voltor, was attempting to land in a field near an industrial estate in Sallent de Llobregat, Barcelona. The flight had initially departed from the Balsareny area for a sightseeing mission, which included a specialized operation where two passengers jumped from the balloon using wingsuits and parachutes.
During the landing approach, the pilot failed to notice a medium-voltage power line. The balloon collided with the cables, causing one line to sever and creating an electrical arc. This arc ignited a fuel bottle, causing a fire. The pilot attempted to use the onboard fire extinguisher, but the fire persisted, prompting an emergency descent. Upon landing, the pilot and passengers evacuated the basket. Shortly after the occupants had cleared the area, one of the fuel bottles exploded, causing a massive fire that ultimately consumed the basket and much of the envelope.
While the pilot sustained minor burns to the hands and forehead, the five passengers on board were uninjured, though they were treated for smoke inhalation.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the flight planning, meteorological conditions, and the operator's compliance with safety regulations. The investigation established that the flight was conducted under unfavorable weather conditions, with heavy cloud cover that forced the pilot to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions, violating Visual Flight Rules (VFR) requirements.
Investigators also reviewed the operator's manual, which mandated the use of a 'Powertec' magnetic field detector when flying near high concentrations of power lines. However, the investigation found that none of the operator's aircraft were equipped with this device. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the pilot was operating under medical limitations that required a second qualified pilot and duplicated controls, which were not present on this flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was inadequate flight planning and the selection of the landing site.
- The pilot violated VFR regulations by flying through a cloud ceiling to facilitate the wingsuit jump.
- The operator performed unauthorized specialized operations (parachuting) not covered in their operations manual.
- The pilot failed to use protective fire-resistant gloves during the emergency, contributing to hand injuries.
- The operator's risk mitigation procedures for electrical lines were imprecise and unenforceable, as the required detection equipment was not installed on the aircraft.
Safety action
- REC 23/21: The operator should modify its operations manual to define specific criteria for what constitutes a "special concentration" of power lines and specify the required safety distance from such lines.
- REC 24/21: The operator must ensure all aircraft are equipped with the necessary equipment to fulfill the risk mitigation measures defined in its manual.
- REC 25/21: AESA (Spanish Aviation Safety Agency) should strengthen supervision of the operator to ensure compliance with current regulations and operational manuals.