What happened
On 3 May 2021, a Chaize hot air balloon, registered F-HGMV, was conducting a commercial sightseeing flight near Locqueltas, France. The flight, operated by Montgolfière Communication, carried a pilot and two passengers.
During the landing phase in a ploughed field, the pilot attempted to land in a specific area to avoid a nearby power line. While the initial approach appeared normal, a westerly wind gust exceeding 20 km/ Ralph made the balloon lift off from the ground again. The pilot attempted to pull the maneuvering vent cord to deflate the envelope, but the action was hindered by the tilting of the envelope caused by the gust.
As the balloon rose to approximately 10 meters, it drifted over a line of trees, with the basket making contact with the treetops. The aircraft eventually settled in a second field, but during the sequence, the balloon envelope struck high-voltage power lines, causing substantial damage to both the lines and the balloon's envelope.
The investigation
The BEA examined the operational and regulatory framework of the flight, noting that the operator, Montgolfière Communication, had not declared its commercial activity to the French civil aviation safety directorate (DSAC). This lack of declaration meant the activity was not subject to official oversight.
The investigation also reviewed the pilot's credentials and the maintenance of the aircraft. The pilot, who was 75 years old, was operating under a European Balloon Pilot Licence but had not flown with an instructor for approximately five years. Additionally, the pilot's class 2 medical certificate had expired in January 2021.
Findings
Several factors contributed to the accident:
- Insufficient deflation: The pilot was unable to apply enough force to the vent cord to sufficiently empty the balloon, potentially due to the physical limitations related to the pilot's age and the resistance of the hook and loop fasteners on the vent.
- Failure to use fast deflation: The pilot did not utilize the fast deflation system (FDS) during the initial ground contact, which prevented the balloon from losing lift quickly enough to resist the wind gust.
- Lack of recent experience: The pilot lacked recent flight experience and had not completed a training flight with an instructor in several years.
- Regulatory non-compliance: The flight was conducted as a commercial operation without proper declaration to the DSAC. The pilot had exceeded the age limit for commercial balloon operations and was operating with an expired medical certificate and without a required commercial operation rating.