20011007033989A

(-23) On October 7, 2001, at 1451 central daylight time, a worner 1000 stu, d-oagh, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing in a field near Liberal, KS. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The flight was being operated in conjunction with the annual albuquerque international balloon fiesta and america's challenge balloon race in albuquerque, NM. The pilot and sole passenger were uninjured. The flight departed the festival in albuquerque NM at 2000 MDT the previous day. This balloon and others in the event encountered unforecast unstable air in western Kansas. The balloon encountered a downdraft while cruising at approximately 6400 feet MSL. The pilot ballasted several bags of sand but was not able to arrest the descent. He also noticed the power lines approaching and elected to make a hard landing and vent the envelope rather than risking "round out" that would take the basket into the power lines. When the envelope contacted the electrical wires, the wires arced igniting the gas being vented from the balloon. The fire caught the envelope on fire causing substantial damage. The basket and contents were undamaged. The gas being used for lifting the balloon was hydrogen. Hydrogen is being used more frequently in these type events because it costs about one-fourth the price of helium. (.19) on October 7, 2001, at 1451 central daylight time, a wonder 1000 stu gas balloon, german registry d-oagh, piloted by commercial pilot, was destroyed when during landing, the hydrogen-filled envelope came in contact with a power line, exploded, and burned. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The balloon was a participant in a racing event associated with the annual albuquerque balloon festival and was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and copilot reported no injuries. The balloon departed albuquerque, new Mexico, on October 6, 2001, at 2000 mountain standard time. The pilot said they were flying at 3,000 feet above the ground over the Liberal, Kansas, area when they experienced a microburst or something like it. The pilot said they suddenly found themselves heading for the ground like a rocke t. the pilot said they dropped ballast to try and slow their descent. He said he then saw that his angle of descent was going to take the balloon intopower lines along a road. The pilot said he opened the vent and put the basket on the road. The envelope went into the power lines, exploded, and burned up. The pilot said that the basket touched down on the road and moved maybe six inches before stopping. He said that the basket and support cables sustained minor damage. He said that the envelope was destroyed by the fire. An official from the albuquerque balloon festival gas balloon command center said that the purpose of gas balloon race is to takeoff and fly the farthest distance possible within a three day period. Race participants can reach altitudes up to 18,000 feet. The balloons are equipped with transponders. Global positioning satellite receivers and radios to communicate with air traffic control facilities. The balloons are also equipped with strobe lights for night operations. The official said that this was the 6th annual gas balloon race associated with the balloon festival. This year's race had 19 balloons participate. Each balloon flies with a crew of two. One person flies while the other person sleeps. He said it was the second year that they've had balloons that use hydrogen. Six of the balloon entries in the race used hydrogen. The official said that appropriate safeguards are employed when filling the balloons. He said that the reason more gas balloons are going to hydrogen is the cost. The official estimated that the cost to fill a gas balloon with hydrogen is 1/5 the cost to fill a balloon with helium gas.