What happened
During a routine deflation procedure involving a vehicle to assist with the envelope, the basket of a hot air balloon was inadvertently tipped over. This sudden movement occurred while the passengers were not in the required landing position, leading to an incident where two passengers sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanics of the vehicle-assisted deflation process and the specific sequence of events that led to the basket's instability. Investigators examined how the interaction between the vehicle and the envelope contributed to the tipping motion. Furthermore, the analysis looked into the positioning of the passengers during the deflation phase and whether the lack of a proper landing position contributed to the severity of the outcome.
Findings
- The primary factor in the basket's instability was the inadvertent tipping caused by the vehicle assisting with the deflation of the envelope.
- The passengers were not in the appropriate landing position at the time of the incident.
- The investigation highlighted systemic safety issues regarding risk management protocols for vehicle-assisted deflation procedures, both from the perspective of the specific balloon operator and the broader commercial balloon industry and regulatory framework.