What happened
On September 26, 2022, a Lindstrand LBL 360-A hot air balloon, registration TC-BPN, operated by Çat Balonculuk Havacılık Tur. Tic. Ltd. Şti., was conducting a scheduled tourist flight near the Çat region in Nevşehir. The flight commenced at 03:20 UTC with 15 passengers on board.
During the descent into the Karacaşar area, the pilot noted an increase in wind intensity. Although the pilot instructed passengers to take a landing position, the aircraft experienced a hard landing at approximately 03:53 UTC. Following the impact, the basket tilted and the aircraft drifted approximately 20 meters. While the aircraft sustained only minor damage, one passenger sustained a fractured right ankle.
The investigation
The UEİM investigation examined the flight logs, maintenance records, and meteorological data. The investigation confirmed that the pilot was properly licensed, medically fit, and had a 0.0 promille alcohol level. While the aircraft's annual maintenance had been performed with a two-month delay, investigators found no maintenance deficiencies that contributed to the incident.
Analysis of GPS data revealed that the landing occurred outside the designated Çat Flight Area NOTAM zone. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the operator was using an outdated version of the flight manual and that the pilot had utilized weight and balance calculation cards belonging to a different company. The investigation also identified that the maintenance facility had used an outdated Service Bulletin for valve inspections and had recorded an incorrect flight hour in the maintenance logs.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was unforeseen seasonal changes in meteorological conditions, specifically an increase in wind speed during the landing phase.
- A contributing human factor was the passenger's failure to properly assume the correct landing position during the period of increased turbulence.
- The aircraft landed outside the authorized NOTAM-regulated airspace.
- The operator was utilizing non-company-specific weight and balance calculation forms.
- The flight manual in use was not the most current version approved by EASA.