What happened
A local sightseeing flight operated by Sundance Balloons International ended in a violent accident near the northern outskirts of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The FireFly 12B hot air balloon, registration C-FNVM, was conducting a routine flight when weather conditions deteriorated more rapidly than the pilot had anticipated. While the initial forecast suggested manageable winds, subsequent reports from the Winnipeg Tower indicated gusts reaching 15 knots.
As the pilot attempted to find a suitable landing site amidst strengthening winds, the balloon made several unsuccessful approaches. During the final attempt near Birds Hill Provincial Park, the aircraft struck the ground at a steep angle, causing the basket to skip and eventually drag on its side for approximately 700 feet. The impact was severe enough to dislodge a burner support upright and break a burner manifold.
As the basket overturned, the fuel system failed. Because the pilot could not reach the valves during the drag, propane leaked from lines that had pulled out of their fittings. The escaping gas ignited upon contact with the burner pilot lights, triggering an intense fire and the explosion of two propane tanks and a fire extinguisher canister. Of the 12 people on board, three individuals suffered serious injuries due to the fire, while four others sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical integrity of the fuel system and the operational procedures used during the landing. Investigators examined the burner assembly and found that the fuel supply lines had disconnected from the manifolds during the dragging sequence.
Testing by the TSB Engineering Laboratory revealed a significant deficiency in the hardware: exemplar fuel hoses used in the balloon's system failed at 150 psi, failing to meet the required airworthiness standard of 400 psi. Furthermore, investigators looked into the company's operational limits, noting that the maximum wind speed permitted in the company manual was 15 knots—a value more than double the 7 mph wind speed demonstrated during the aircraft's original certification testing.
Findings
- The flight continued despite wind speeds exceeding the maximum demonstrated limits in the balloon flight manual.
- The fuel system was not shut down following the hard landing, which prevented the prevention of the subsequent fire.
- The inability to quickly deflate the envelope contributed to the extended 700-foot drag distance.
- The company's operational wind limit of 15 knots was too high to ensure a safe, short landing distance.
- There was a lack of regulatory requirement for passenger restraints or personal protective equipment for this type of operation.
- The fuel supply hoses used in the aircraft did not meet necessary airworthiness standards.