What happened
On August 19, 2012, a Cameron Balloons Z-750 hot air balloon, registered F-HDJH, was conducting a non-scheduled commercial passenger flight near Feings, France. The flight, operated by Air Magic, carried 32 passengers and one crew member.
During the approach to the landing site, the pilot noted an increase in the descent rate. To mitigate the impact, the pilot activated the Rapid Deflation System (RDS). However, the landing was heavy; the basket struck the ground, tipped forward, and bounced. The momentum of the envelope caused the basket to drag across the ground for approximately 70 meters. During this sequence, a passenger was ejected from the basket and struck by the vessel, resulting in one fatality.
The investigation
The BEA examined the flight operations, weather conditions, and the physical constraints of the aircraft. Investigators reviewed the operator's manual, which required safety briefings and demonstrations of the landing position. Video footage from a ground witness confirmed that the basket hit the ground with a horizontal speed of 11 knots and a vertical speed of 2 m/s.
The investigation also looked into the physical capacity of the passengers to adhere to safety instructions. While the pilot had provided the necessary briefings, the investigation noted that the passenger's physical build and the cramped nature of the basket compartments likely prevented them from maintaining the required landing position during the impact.
Findings
- The hard landing and subsequent basket tip were likely caused by a late consideration of the balloon's significant inertia and the prevailing wind speeds.
- The pilot's ability to control the vertical descent rate was limited by the large volume of the envelope and the ambient temperature.
- The RDS did not deflate the envelope quickly enough to prevent the basket from being dragged by the wind.
- The passenger was unable to adopt and maintain the required safety position due to their physical size and the limited space within the basket compartments.
- A failure to identify passenger vulnerability as a specific risk factor rendered existing safety measures ineffective.