# Accident 19980109000559A: Camron R420, Yeso, NM, January 9, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 9, 1998, 07:13 local time
- Place: Yeso, NM
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.4292° N, 104.6008° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4292&lon=-104.6008&mi=10
- Aircraft: N298AR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CAMRON R420
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,333 total, 3 in this make and model, 110 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98FA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA089) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980109000559A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AT FL274 LOUD WHOOSH NOISE. BALLOON ASCENDED TO FL330. MORE NOISE AND JOLTS. DUMPED HELIUM. DESCENDED. BAILED OUT (.4) THE GLOBAL HILTON ROZIERE GAS BALLOON EXPERIENCED A RUPTURE OF ITS MAIN GAS CELL'S BOTTOM 10 TO 12 MINUTES AFTER IT REACHED ITS CEILING. THE PILOTS CONTINUED TO HEAR POPS, RIPS, AND TEARING AS THE BALLOON DESCENDED TO APPROXIMATELY 9,000 FEET MSL.  EIGHTEEN PROPANE BOTTLES AND THREE OXYGEN BOTTLES SURROUNDED THE GONDOLA.  THE GROUND CREW REPORTED SURFACE WINDS OF 30 TO 35 KNOTS, AND THE SURFACE TERRAIN WAS RUGGED WITH CANYONS AND ROCK FORMATIONS.  THE CREW DECIDED THAT A SAFE HEAVY WEIGHT STANDUP LANDING WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, AND THEY PARACHUTED TO THE GROUND.  THE UNMANNED BALLOON CONTINUED FLIGHT FOR 7 HOURS AND 375 NM UNTIL IT IMPACTED WIRES AND WAS CONSUMED BY POSTIMPACT FIRE.  THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE MAIN GAS CELL HAD 13.273 SQUARE FEET OF OPENING FOR THE TWO APPENDIXES TO RELEASE SURPLUS GAS AT CEILING ALTITUDE.  POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE BALLOON APPENDIXES HAD ONLY 8.96 SQUARE FEET OF OPENING.  THE MANUFACTURER MODIFIED APPENDIXES WERE BUCKLED TO THE BALLOON'S SIDE, WHICH FURTHER RESTRICTED THE OPENINGS BY 56%.  THE BASE CIRCLE IN  THE BOTTOM OF THE MAIN GAS CELL 41 INCHES IN DIAMETER, 21.75% SMALLER THAN DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. (-23) SEE NARRATIVE #FTW98FA089

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98FA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA089), Jan 9, 1998: Cameron R-420 (N298AR), Yeso, NM, destroyed. Probable cause: The rupture of the gas cell bottom (diaphragm) due to inadequate manufacturer's design and inadequate manufacturing quality control. A factor was the flight crew's performance of an emergency bailout…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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