What happened
On 14 January 2017, an Ultramagic N-500 hot air balloon, registration A6-BOB, departed Al Faqa, Dubai, for a scheduled sightseeing excursion. The flight carried 24 people, including the pilot and 23 passengers. During the initial hot inflation phase at the launch site, a sudden wind gust struck the semi-inflated envelope. Because the pilot had not opened the Velcro tabs on the parachute/deflation system, the force of the wind caused several of the balloon's eight nylon rods to fracture or bend.
While the ground crew noticed the damage and attempted to alert the pilot, the pilot remained focused on operating the burners and did not register the warnings. The flight proceeded to completion, but upon landing in Sharjah, the structural integrity of the burner assembly failed. As the basket came to a stop, the pilot lost his balance and grabbed the burner handle with both hands. This action inadvertently activated the liquid valve while the pilot lights were still active, causing a continuous flame to strike the balloon structure. The basket subsequently tilted onto its side and upside down, resulting in one injury to the pilot's face from burns.
The investigation
Investigators from the GCAA AAIS examined the mechanical failure of the nylon rods and the sequence of events during both inflation and landing. The inquiry reviewed maintenance logs, which showed a recent 100-hour check, and analyzed video footage from a GoPro camera mounted on the balloon. The investigation also evaluated the communication protocols between the ground crew and the pilot, as well as the pilot's adherence to standard operating procedures regarding burner management and pre-flight inspections.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the fracture of the nylon rods during the inflation phase, which left the balloon in an unairworthy condition for takeoff.
- The pilot failed to perform a complete pre-flight check, specifically neglecting to open the deflation system's Velcro tabs.
- There was a breakdown in communication, as the pilot did not notice the ground crew's attempts to signal the structural damage.
- The pilot did not follow the requirement to extinguish the pilot lights prior to touchdown.
- The inadvertent activation of the liquid valve during the landing instability directly led to the fire.