What happened
On 2 June 2019, a Schroeder Fire Balloons G50/24 hot air balloon, registration F-HJAP, was conducting a commercial sightseeing flight near Saint-Fort-sur-Gironde, France. The flight, operated by SARLL Montgolfière du Pinson, carried the pilot and five passengers.
After approximately 45 minutes of flight, the pilot decided to terminate the flight due to increasing wind speeds. As the balloon approached the landing site, the pilot attempted a short landing by utilizing the rapid deflation valve. However, the descent became unexpectedly rapid and sudden. Upon impact with a harvested field, the landing was extremely hard, causing the basket to bounce. During this sequence, the pilot was thrown from the basket. As the basket bounced a second time, it struck the pilot, resulting in one fatality.
The investigation
The BEA examined GPS data, passenger video footage, and physical evidence at the site. The investigation focused on the descent profile, the meteorological conditions, and the equipment used during the landing. Investigators analyzed the state of the burner and fuel tanks, noting that the pilot lights were still ignited and two fuel tanks remained open, suggesting the pilot was unable to complete the required landing procedures due to the suddenness of the descent. The investigation also looked into the presence of safety equipment, specifically noting that no restraint system was found on the pilot or within the basket.
Findings
Several factors contributed to the accident:
- The pilot's use of the rapid deflation valve to facilitate a short landing likely accelerated the descent rate near the ground.
- The presence of a nearby forest may have created a turbulent layer of air, contributing to the instability of the descent.
- The pilot was not wearing a restraint system, which allowed him to be ejected from the basket during the hard impact.
- The suddenness of the descent prevented the pilot from completing essential safety actions, such as extinguishing the pilot lights and closing the fuel valves, and prevented him from securing himself to a handle within the basket.