What happened
On 20 September 2020, a Schroeder Fire Balloons G30/24 hot air balloon, registered F-GLAU, was conducting a commercial sightseeing flight near Jouaville, France. The flight, operated by Club Montgolfières Icare, carried a pilot and two passengers.
Prior to landing, the pilot performed a low-altitude flyover at less than five meters to assess wind conditions. During this period, the pilot noted wind speeds of approximately 14 km/ Ralph. Following this, the pilot ascended to 40 meters to conduct the required passenger safety briefing. During the briefing, the pilot's attention was diverted from the flight path, and the basket rotated so that the pilot was no longer facing the direction of travel.
As the balloon descended, it drifted toward a 20,000 V medium-voltage power line. Realizing a collision was imminent, the pilot decided to land before reaching the cables and pulled the valve line to descend. The basket touched down approximately 15 meters from the lines, but the wind pushed the balloon into the cables. The contact caused the cables to break and partially tear the balloon's envelope, with electric arcs causing burns to several panels.
The investigation
The BEA examined flight data from a mobile application used by the pilot, meteorological reports from Météo-France, and the pilot's statements. The investigation reviewed the pilot's decision-making process regarding the safety briefing and the maneuver used to avoid the obstacle. The investigators also assessed the wind conditions, which averaged 15 km/h during the final minutes of the flight, and the aircraft's flight manual specifications regarding maximum permitted wind speeds.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to conduct the passenger safety briefing during the landing phase acted as a significant distraction, preventing him from monitoring the balloon's proximity to the power lines.
- The pilot was not facing the direction of flight due to the basket's rotation, which contributed to a lack of situational awareness regarding the approaching obstacle.
- The pilot's choice to descend via the valve line rather than attempting to fly over the obstacle likely mitigated the severity of the accident, as attempting to clear the lines might have resulted in a more catastrophic collision involving the basket or gas cylinders.