PLT OF PICCARD STRETCH SIX BALLOON MAKES A LNDG INTO THE SUN AND WHEN ABLE TO BLOCK THE SUN SIGHTS PWR LINES DIRECTLY IN THE PATH. ENVELOPE CONTACTS THE PWR LINES THEN BEGINS A SLIDE WHICH BRINGS THE LINES TOGETHER. RESULT IS A POPPED CIRCUIT BREAKER AND DAMAGE TO THE ENVELOPE.

Date: 1998-02 · Aircraft: Balloon

Anomalies: conflict-ground-conflict|critical|other-unspecified

Synopsis

PLT OF PICCARD STRETCH SIX BALLOON MAKES A LNDG INTO THE SUN AND WHEN ABLE TO BLOCK THE SUN SIGHTS PWR LINES DIRECTLY IN THE PATH. ENVELOPE CONTACTS THE PWR LINES THEN BEGINS A SLIDE WHICH BRINGS THE LINES TOGETHER. RESULT IS A POPPED CIRCUIT BREAKER AND DAMAGE TO THE ENVELOPE.

Narrative

DURATION OF FLT: 35 MINS. WIND: 330 DEGS AT 6 KTS. DISTANCE TRAVELED: 3 1/2 MI. OCCUPANTS: PLT PLUS ONE. NORMAL TKOF; AFTER 10 MINS IN FLT CAME LOW OVER OPEN FIELD FOR A FEW TOUCH AND GOES AND CONTOUR FLYING. DID INTERMEDIATE LNDG TO PICK UP PAX. FLEW ON FOR 25 MINS AND DECIDED TO LAND BEHIND A SHOPPING STRIP. APCH WAS NORMAL HOWEVER VISION WAS HINDERED AS MY FLT PATH WAS DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN. I CLRED THE SHOPPING STRIP AND SET THE BALLOON DOWN. AS WE LANDED; THE BALLOON SHADOWED THE SUN AND I SAW A SET OF PWR LINES IN MY PATH. THE DRAG WAS ONLY 3 OR 4 FT BEFORE THE BALLOON ENVELOPE'S FINAL NESTING SPOT WAS OVER A SET OF 4 PWR LINES. THE TOP 1/4 OF THE ENVELOPE WAS OVER THE LINES. MY PAX AND I QUICKLY GOT OUT OF THE BASKET; AND I NOTICED THE ENVELOPE WAS SLIDING OFF THE LINES. THIS ACTION WAS SHORT LIVED AS THIS MOTION WAS PULLING THE 4 WIRES TOGETHER. WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINS THE LINES TOUCHED WHICH BLEW A CIRCUIT BREAKER AND ALSO SEVERED A LINE. THE LINE FELL TO THE GND. THE ENVELOPE SUFFERED A FEW BURN HOLES HOWEVER NO DAMAGE TO BASKET/BURNER SYS; AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. POLICE AND FIRE DEPT WERE ON SCENE QUICKLY AND NOTIFIED ELECTRIC COMPANY. ELECTRIC SHOWED UP WITH A BARREL TRUCK AND LIFTED THE BALLOON OFF WIRES. THE ELECTRIC REPAIR CREW THEN ARRIVED AND REPAIRED DAMAGED LINE. TOTAL TIME FROM BALLOON LNDG TO PICK UP -- 1 HR 40 MINS.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.