HOT AIR BALLOON WHILE ATTEMPTING A THIRD LNDG; CONTACTED PWR LINES AND CAME TO REST SUSPENDED ON THE PWR POLE.

Narrative

FLT TKOF WAS NORMAL. ABOUT 1/2 WAY THROUGH THE FLT; I ENCOUNTERED TURB AND ERRATIC WIND DIRECTION CHANGES. I ATTEMPTED A LNDG IN AN OPEN FIELD; BUT THE WIND DIRECTION CHANGED AND LNDG WAS NOT POSSIBLE. AT THIS TIME THE WIND DIRECTION WAS AT A 90 DEG HDG FROM THE NORMAL FLT PATH. THIS COURSE WAS TOWARDS A MOUNTAIN RIDGE WHICH I ASCENDED TO CLR. UPON XING THE FIRST RIDGE; I ATTEMPTED ANOTHER LNDG WITH THE SAME RESULTS AS THE FIRST ATTEMPT. ASCENDING AGAIN; I CROSSED THE SECOND RIDGE AND AT THIS TIME THE WIND SPD ACCELERATED APPROX 25-30 MPH. I DSNDED INTO THE NEXT VALLEY AND BEGAN LOOKING FOR A SUITABLE LNDG FIELD. UPON LOCATING A LARGE FIELD IN MY COURSE; I BEGAN AN APCH. AT THIS TIME I WAS AT THE PROJECTED LENGTH OF FLT. I HAD ANOTHER MOUNTAIN RIDGE IN MY PATH AND A MEDIUM SIZED CITY ON THE OTHER SIDE. ON APCH FOR MY LNDG; ALT 350 FT; AND APPROX 1/4 MI FROM LNDG; I ENCOUNTERED WINDSHEAR AND LOST ALT RAPIDLY. SEEING THAT IT WAS IMMINENT THAT I WOULD COLLIDE WITH A SET OF PWRLINES; I VENTED THE BALLOON TO FACILITATE A LNDG BEFORE THE LINES; AS THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF CLRING THEM. THE BALLOON STRUCK THEM AT APPROX THE EQUATOR OF THE ENVELOPE AND THE LINES SEPARATED. THE WIND SPD AND MOMENTUM CONTINUED TO MOVE THE BALLOON AND IT CAME TO REST SUSPENDED ON THE PWR POLE. THE BASKET WAS SUSPENDED 6 FT AGL. WHEN IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DUMP FREE; THE PAX AND I WERE ABLE TO JUMP CLR WITH HELP FROM AN OFFICER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE ACFT SUSTAINED SOME DAMAGE ON CONTACT. THE BALLOON WAS EQUIPPED WITH NON CONDUCTIVE CABLES. I THINK THAT THE DECISION TO VENT AND LAND BEFORE THE LINES SO AS TO NOT HAVE THE BASKET CONTACT THE PWR LINES WAS THE SAFEST APCH TO THIS SIT.