What happened
On 8 September 2006, a Cameron N-90 Balloon, registration G-INSR, was conducting a private flight near Wood Dalling, Norfolk. The flight, which included the pilot and two passengers, proceeded normally for approximately one hour, reaching an altitude of 2,000 feet.
As the balloon approached a landing field, the pilot prepared to descend by pulling the red ripline to release air from the envelope. The landing area contained a small copse of trees, necessitating a controlled descent. As the basket touched down on its front corner, the momentum caused the basket to pitch forward abruptly. Because the pilot was holding the ripline with both hands, the sudden movement ejected him from the basket.
The pilot landed on the ground ahead of the basket and was subsequently run over by the basket as it continued to move across the field. During this process, the ripline became entangled around his right foot, causing him to be dragged along the ground while the balloon remained airborne. After the balloon reached an altitude of approximately 30 feet, the line eventually unraveled, and the pilot fell to the ground. The passengers, remaining in the basket, pulled the ripline to complete the descent, landing without further incident.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation established that the pilot sustained serious injuries, including a broken leg, and required a six-week hospital stay. One passenger also sustained a minor cut. The investigation examined the meteorological conditions, noting that while winds were within operating limits, the lack of turning vents on the Cameron N-90 Balloon contributed to the basket's difficulty in aligning with the landing direction.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's physical position during the landing. It was noted that while commercial operations require pilot restraint harnesses, the pilot in this private flight was not secured to the basket. The investigation found that had the pilot remained in the basket, the injuries likely would have been avoided.
Findings
- The pilot was ejected from the basket due to the sudden forward pitch caused by the basket hitting the ground on its front corner.
- The pilot was unable to brace himself because he was using both hands to operate the ripline.
- The absence of a pilot restraint harness allowed the pilot to be thrown from the basket and subsequently dragged by the entangled ripline.
- The balloon was not equipped with turning vents, making it harder to manage the basket's orientation during landing.