What happened
On 16 June 2021, a Lindstrand LBL 210A hot air balloon, registered F-HGAS, was conducting a commercial sightseeing flight near Castelnaud-La-Chapelle, France. The flight, operated by Montgolfière & Châteaux, departed from Cénac et Saint-Julien at approximately 05:00 UTC with a pilot and eight passengers on board.
Approximately 25 minutes into the flight, the pilot attempted to descend to a target altitude of 500 feet to follow the terrain. While the pilot initially stabilized the descent, the vertical speed indicator soon triggered a warning, indicating a descent rate exceeding 2 m/s. Despite the continuous use of both main burners, the balloon continued to lose altitude. Realizing the descent could not be arrested, the pilot alerted the passengers to adopt the landing position only seconds before impact. The balloon struck a concrete surface with significant force, causing the basket to bounce and eventually tip onto its side.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the cause of the involuntary descent and the circumstances leading to the injuries sustained by the passengers. Investigators examined the aircraft's equipment, including the parachute valve and burner systems, and reviewed the pilot's flight logs and statements. The investigation also considered meteorological conditions, noting a temperature inversion was present but potentially less pronounced than usual due to a warm night.
Findings
While the investigation could not determine the specific cause of the involuntary descent, several factors contributed to the five injuries sustained during the event, which included two serious injuries.
- The pilot's intense focus on managing the uncontrolled descent prevented the strict application of emergency landing procedures.
- The warning to passengers regarding the imminent impact was provided too late, which prevented the pilot from verifying that everyone had correctly adopted the required safety position.
- The pilot failed to turn off the pilot lights after the initial impact, a step intended to prevent fire during a basket overturn.