A HOT AIR BALLOON PLT HIT PWR LINES.

Narrative

PLT WAS COMPETING IN HOT AIR BALLOON EVENT. THE TASK ASSIGNED WAS A PLT DECLARED GOAL WITH A FLY-ON TO THE BOONE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. PLT HAD SELECTED AS THE GOAL AN INTXN OF 2 LCL ROADS. THE FLT PATH NEAR THE GND WAS TO THE W AT APPROX 270 DEGS; WHILE AT 500 FT AGL THE FLT PATH WAS AT APPROX 320 DEGS. AS PLT APCHED TARGET (ABOUT 3/4 MI E OF TARGET); HE INCREASED HIS ALT TO APPROX 500 FT AGL TO OBSERVE INTXN. WHEN IT WAS LOCATED; HE DETERMINED HE NEEDED TO FLY AT ABOUT 270 DEGS; THUS HE VENTED TO REDUCE ALT. THE FLT PATH WAS OVER OPEN FIELDS AND PASTURES. A FARMSTEAD WAS ABOUT 500 FT N OF FLT PATH AND A RURAL SUBDIVISION WAS APPROX 1320 FT S OF FLT PATH. AS PLT LEVELED OFF NEAR GND; HE FIRST SAW A PWR POLE TO HIS R NEAR FARM. AT ABOUT SAME TIME; HE SAW PWR LINES (2) IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF BALLOON; ABOUT 50 FT AWAY. PLT IMMEDIATELY PULLED DEFLATION LINE TO DEFLATE BALLOON. BALLOON LANDED AT FENCE LINE AND MOMENTUM CARRIED BALLOON OVER FENCE AND THROUGH PWR LINES; SEVERING BOTH LINES. ONLY PART OF BALLOON THAT MADE CONTACT WITH PWR LINES WAS THE NOMEX SKIRT. NO DAMAGE TO BALLOON OR TO THE KEVLAR SUSPENSION CABLES. NO INJURIES WERE SUFFERED BY PLT WHO WAS FLYING SOLO. IN THIS INSTANCE; THE PWR LINE PARALLELED AND WAS IN LINE WITH A N-S FENCE THROUGH A PASTURE. AT THE POLE TO THE L; LOCATED AT THE INTXN OF THE N-S FENCE AND AN E-W FENCE; THE PWR LINE WENT UNDERGND TO THE SUBDIVISION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR WAS FLYING A FIREFLY AX-6 BALLOON. HE HAS RECEIVED A LETTER OF INVESTIGATION FROM THE KANSAS CITY FSDO SUGGESTING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A 30 DAY SUSPENSION OF HIS PLT CERTIFICATE. THERE HAS BEEN NO HEARING; AND NONE YET SCHEDULED. THE FAR VIOLATION THAT WAS MENTIONED WAS VIOLATION OF THE ALT WAIVER THAT WAS IN EFFECT. THE RPTR READILY ADMITS THAT HE WAS FLYING TOO LOW. HE HAS WRITTEN AN ARTICLE FOR HIS LCL BALLOON CLUB SUGGESTING NEW TACTICS FOR LETTING DOWN; NOT TO GO DOWN TO THE LOWEST ALT RIGHT AWAY BUT TO LET DOWN TO AN INTERMEDIATE ALT TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AHEAD FOR WIRES.