SUDDEN WINDSHEAR FORCED A HOT AIR BALLOON INTO PWR LINES.

Narrative

WINDSHEAR BLEW US DOWN INTO PWR LINES. I TURNED THE BURNER ON TO TRY AND CLB OUT BUT COULD NOT. JUST BEFORE STRIKE; I SHUT OFF BURNER AND PULLED THE SMART VENT TO OPEN TOP. LNDG WAS FAIRLY SMOOTH. BALLOON DRAPED OVER PWR LINES. PAX AND PLT EXITED SAFELY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR FLIES A VERY LARGE BALLOON IN A RIDE BUSINESS; ABLE 14 PAX MAX; CARRYING ABOUT 12 PAX ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT. THE BALLOON HIT 79000 VOLT PWR LINES JUST ABOVE THE BASKET SEVERING 2 SUSPENSION CABLES AND BURNING SEVERAL PANELS. THE PWR COMPANY HAD TO 'CUT THE BALLOON IN HALF' TO GET IT OFF OF THE LINES. THE RPTR HEARD THE CIRCUIT BREAKER POP; THEN THE BALLOON SLID TO THE GND FROM ABOUT 60 FT LEAVING MOST OF THE ENVELOPE DRAPED ACROSS THE WIRES. THE ONLY INJURY WAS A SPRAINED ANKLE INCURRED WHEN 1 PAX STEPPED ON ANOTHER PAX'S ANKLE ON ENTERING THE BASKET. THE RPTR AND A PAX HAD ARCING BURNS TO SOME CLOTHING. THE RPTR WAS TRYING TO LAND IN A PARKING LOT PAST THE PWR LINES WHEN THE WINDSHEAR CAUSED AN ABRUPT CHANGE OF COURSE INTO THE PWR LINES. ANOTHER DOZEN 'ELECTRIC AERONAUTS' ARE BORN. AS NO ONE WAS INJURED; THE FAA CLASSIFIED THIS AS AN 'INCIDENT.' THE RPTR HAS HEARD NOTHING FROM THE FAA SINCE THE INCIDENT.