HOT AIR BALLOON PLT HAD HARD LNDG AND WAS BLOWN INTO A PWR LINE. PLT FELL OUT OF ACFT AND A PAX WHO IS A PLT HAD TO FLY THE ACFT.

Narrative

WE STARTED OUR APCH ON A BIG OPEN FIELD HEADING TO THE S. THE BALLOON WAS AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL. WHEN WE NOTICED THE GPS SAID OUR SPD WAS 1.5 MPH; WE STARTED OUR DSCNT FLYING OVER SOME PINE TREES; A 2 LANE ROAD AND THE PWR LINES WHICH WERE ABOUT 40 FT ABOVE THE GND. MY APCH TO THE MIDDLE OF THE 300 FT FIELD TO DO A STAND UP LNDG WAS SUDDENLY ALTERED WHEN A DOWNDRAFT FORCED US TO THE GND VERY HARD; AS THE BALLOON HIT THE GND. I STARTED PULLING THE VENT LINE INTO THE BASKET. BY PULLING THIS LINE THE TOP OF THE BALLOON OPENS LETTING OUT THE HOT AIR. WHEN THE BASKET HIT THE GND THE WIND DRAGGED US NNW TOWARD THE PWR LINES WE HAD JUST CROSSED OVER. THE VENT LINE IS HOOKED DIRECTLY TO THE VALVE. WHEN THE BALLOON REBOUNDED THE LINE PULLED TAUT AND PULLED ME OUT OF THE BASKET. THE GND CREW AND I TRIED TO WEIGH DOWN THE BALLOON BUT COULDN'T STOP THE BACKWARD MOTION BACK INTO THE PWR LINES. WE LET GO OF THE BASKET AND THE BALLOON STRUCK THE PWR LINE AND BOUNCED BACK OFF QUICKLY; WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE ENVELOPE OR BASKET. THE PAX; WHO IS ALSO A PLT; FLEW THE BALLOON INTO A SAFE LNDG SITE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO PEOPLE OR PROPERTY.