AEROSTAR RX8 BALLOON CONTACTS PWR LINES DURING FLT.

Narrative

WHILE CONTOUR FLYING AT APPROX 2 MPH ALONG ROCK FORMATIONS THE ACFT CRESTED THE RIDGE OF A FORMATION AND WAS VENTED TO START THE DSCNT DOWN THE BACK SIDE OF THE ROCK FORMATION. AS THE BALLOON REACHED THE EDGE OF THE FORMATION; AND IN A SLIGHT DSCNT A SET OF PWR LINES BECAME VISIBLE. THE BALLOON WAS DSNDING AT APPROX 10-15 FPM AND THE PWR LINES WERE APPROX 20 FT IN FRONT OF THE BALLOON. I REACHED TO VENT THE AIR AND RIP OUT THE TOP OF THE BALLOON; BUT BASED ON MY LOCATION; THE DISTANCE TO THE PWR LINES AND THE APPROX HT OF THE BALLOON I FELT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT I WOULD CONTACT THE PWR LINES AT THE SAME TIME THE GONDOLA WOULD LAND ON THE GND POSSIBLY CREATING A DIRECT SHORT WITH THE BASKET BEING INVOLVED. I THEN USED BOTH BURNERS TO INITIATE AN ASCENT. THE BALLOON CONTACTED THE PWR LINE APPROX 6 FT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ENVELOPE. THE PWR LINE STOPPED THE FORWARD MOMENTUM OF THE BALLOON. AS THE BALLOON STOPPED ON THE LINE; PART OF THE ENVELOPE FABRIC CONTACTED THE GND LINE. WHEN THE BALLOON RECOILED OFF OF THE LINE I HEARD A SOFT CRACKING; I DID NOT SEE ANY ARCING IN; ON OR CLOSE TO THE GONDOLA OR THE UPRIGHTS. THE BALLOON THEN ASCENDED OVER THE PWR LINES. I IMMEDIATELY ASKED IF ANY ONE WAS INJURED OR HURT; AND NO ONE HAD RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF INJURY. I LANDED THE BALLOON IMMEDIATELY.