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19980523026879A

Accident
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FAA accident report · Aerstr S81A · Smoketown, PA · May 23, 1998

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
May 23, 1998 · 05:50 local
Place
Smoketown, PA
Airport
Smoketown Airport
Phase of flight
Starting Engines
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Aircraft
N7165E
NTSB investigation
NTSBNYC98LA114
Reported as
Aerstr S81A
People aboard
3
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
950 total17 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4) The balloon experienced a fire while preparing for takeoff. The pilot stated that after the accident, he shut off the balloon's propane tanks, and tried tightening all the propane fittings to prevent another fire. Examination of the balloon's fuel delivery and storage systems did not reveal the fire's fuel source. (-23)Mr. David gaither performed his required preflight inspection of the balloon fuel system and burners. Mr. Gaither said everything appeared to be normal. Prior to the cold inflation of the balloon, he connected an external fuel tank to the burner system. This would allow him to begin his flight with full fuel tanks on board the balloon. When connecting the external fuel system to the burner, one of the three internal fuel tanks was disconnected and the fuel line capped. Mr. Gaither clearly recalls checking the disconnected tank to ensure that the fuel valve was closed. The fuel line from the disconnected internal tank was draped over the pilot's compartment at about waist height.

As the FAA filed it

(.4) THE BALLOON EXPERIENCED A FIRE WHILE PREPARING FOR TAKEOFF. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE SHUT OFF THE BALLOON'S PROPANE TANKS, AND TRIED TIGHTENING ALL THE PROPANE FITTINGS TO PREVENT ANOTHER FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE BALLOON'S FUEL DELIVERY AND STORAGE SYSTEMS DID NOT REVEAL THE FIRE'S FUEL SOURCE. (-23)MR. DAVID GAITHER PERFORMED HIS REQUIRED PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE BALLOON FUEL SYSTEM AND BURNERS. MR. GAITHER SAID EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE NORMAL. PRIOR TO THE COLD INFLATION OF THE BALLOON, HE CONNECTED AN EXTERNAL FUEL TANK TO THE BURNER SYSTEM. THIS WOULD ALLOW HIM TO BEGIN HIS FLIGHT WITH FULL FUEL TANKS ON BOARD THE BALLOON. WHEN CONNECTING THE EXTERNAL FUEL SYSTEM TO THE BURNER, ONE OF THE THREE INTERNAL FUEL TANKS WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE FUEL LINE CAPPED. MR. GAITHER CLEARLY RECALLS CHECKING THE DISCONNECTED TANK TO ENSURE THAT THE FUEL VALVE WAS CLOSED. THE FUEL LINE FROM THE DISCONNECTED INTERNAL TANK WAS DRAPED OVER THE PILOT'S COMPARTMENT AT ABOUT WAIST HEIGHT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC98LA114Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportStrasburg, PAA fire of undetermined origin.May 23, 1998 · No damage