A HOT AIR BALLOON HAD A WIND CHANGE NEAR THE GND AND DRIFTED INTO THE PWR LINES. THERE WAS MINIMAL DAMAGE AND NO INJURY.

Narrative

OUR HOT AIR BALLOON WAS ON A DSNDING GS INTO A DIRT FIELD FOR A LNDG AND PAX CHANGE OUT. I CROSSED THE BORDERING PWR LINES WITH PLENTY OF CLRNC HEADED TOWARD THE CTR OF THE FIELD. JUST AFTER XING THE LINES; OUR FORWARD MOMENTUM STOPPED AND WE BEGAN TO DSND STRAIGHT DOWN. THIS SEEMED OKAY BECAUSE WE WERE CLR OF THE LINES AND I WANTED TO STAY NEAR THE EDGE OF THE FIELD. AFTER INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE GND; WE MADE A SHALLOW BOUNCE. AS I WAITED FOR THE CHASE CREW TO REACH US AND I TRIED TO BRING THE BALLOON TO A FULL STOP; THE BALLOON BEGAN TO BACK UP TOWARD THE PWR LINES. SINCE THE CREW WAS NOT GOING TO REACH ME IN TIME; I BEGAN TO HEAT UP TO FLY CLR. I GOT ABOUT 10 FT OFF THE GND WHEN CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE PWR LINES. AT THAT POINT I RIPPED OUT AND DEFLATED. THE ENVELOPE DRAPED OVER THE LINES WHICH TRIPPED A CIRCUIT BREAKER AND KILLED THE PWR. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THE ENVELOPE OFF THE LINES AND PACK UP. THE ONLY DAMAGE TO THE BALLOON WAS A 4 INCH HOLE IN THE ENVELOPE WHERE THE WIRES HAD SHORTED OUT. THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE AND NO ONE WAS HURT. IN RETROSPECT; THIS HAS TAUGHT ME TO LAND FURTHER AWAY FROM PWR LINES IN ANTICIPATION OF UNKNOWN WIND SHIFTS ON THE GND. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED TO RIP OUT EARLIER BEFORE CONTACT IS MADE.