AN INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT; IN A BALLOON WORKS; FIREFLY 78; HIT ELECTRICAL WIRES DAMAGING THE BALLOON ENVELOPE AND OPENING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR THE WIRES.

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MY STUDENT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN A FIELD BEYOND WIRES AND TREES. HE RELEASED SOME HOT AIR TO INITIATE HIS DSCNT. HE RELEASED TOO MUCH AND DID NOT ADD HEAT SOON ENOUGH RESULTING IN A STEEP DSCNT TOWARD THE WIRES. I TOOK OVER AND ADDED HEAT; BUT THE DSCNT COULD NOT BE ARRESTED FAST ENOUGH DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE BALLOON FABRIC. THE FABRIC WAS 15 YRS OLD AND DID NOT RETAIN HEAT VERY WELL. WHEN IT BECAME EVIDENT TO ME THAT WE WOULD NOT CLR THE WIRES; I INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT TO OPEN THE DEFLATION VALVE FOR A RAPID DSCNT. THE BALLOON STRUCK THE WIRES JUST PRIOR TO OUR LNDG RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL ARCING AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FABRIC ABOUT 12 FT UP FROM THE BALLOON THROAT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE OTHER THAN THE FABRIC AND MY EGO. THE PWR COMPANY HAD TO RESET A CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT POPPED DUE TO THE ARCING. I LEARNED THAT VENTING AN OLD; TIRED BALLOON REQUIRES AN IMMEDIATE ADDITION OF HOT AIR TO PREVENT A STEEP DSCNT. THE STUDENT AND I AGREED THAT HIS BALLOON WAS TOO POROUS TO BE SAFELY FLOWN BY A STUDENT OR ANYONE ELSE; AND DECIDED TO RETIRE THAT ENVELOPE AND PURCHASE A NEW ONE. WE ALSO LEARNED THAT IT IS SAFER TOO PULL THE TOP OPEN FOR A RAPID DSCNT THAN TO TRY AND RECOVER NEAR WIRES.