A HOT AIR BALLOON PLT FOUND THAT HE HAD NO CERTIFICATE OF AIRWORTHINESS IN THE ACFT WHILE FLYING.

Narrative

WHILE ATTENDING THE RED RIVER BALLOON FESTIVAL AT SHREVEPORT; LA; I WAS FLYING A LIGHTER-THAN-AIR BALLOON. AT THE TIME OF INFLATION AND TKOF; THE LAUNCH FIELD WAS UNDER MARGINAL CONDITIONS WITH SOME GND FOG IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS. A LOW CEILING WAS RPTED BY THE ON-SITE METEOROLOGIST; BUT CLRNC TO INFLATE AND TKOF WAS GIVEN. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF; I WAS INSTRUCTED TO LAND. TO COMPLY; I FLEW OVER A DOWNWIND PWRLINE; AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT SAFELY ON A LEVEE. TOTAL TIME IN FLT WAS 5 MINS AND DISTANCE COVERED WAS 100 YARDS. 2 OTHER BALLOONS IN THE FESTIVAL ALSO TOOK OFF AND LANDED IN A NEARBY AREA. THE FAA REQUESTED MY PAPERWORK INCLUDING LICENSE; REGISTRATION; AND AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE. I SHOWED HIM MY LICENSE BUT WAS UNABLE TO PRODUCE THE CERTIFICATE OF AIRWORTHINESS. LATER THAT DAY; I CONTACTED THE OWNER OF THE ACFT WHO TOLD ME THAT IT HAD BEEN REMOVED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE AT A RECENT ANNUAL. I HAD NOT CHKED THE ACFT FOR THIS PAPERWORK WHEN PICKING IT UP. THE CERTIFICATE OF AIRWORTHINESS WAS FORWARDED TO THE FAA WITH A NOTE OF EXPLANATION THAT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE; FOREIGN REGISTERED ACFT DO NOT REQUIRE A UNITED STATES REGISTRATION. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY HAVING LAUNCH DIRECTORS ON THE FIELD TO GIVE FINAL APPROVAL FOR LIFTOFF IN MARGINAL WX CONDITIONS. ALSO; I WOULD USE A PREFLT CHKLIST WHICH IS BACK TO BASICS. I WILL SPEND TIME IN REMEDIAL TRAINING WITH AN FAA DESIGNEE TO REVIEW THE PROCS TO AVOID THIS TYPE INCIDENT IN THE FUTURE.