# Accident 20041003024049A: Balbau NL1000STU, Chama, NM, October 3, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 3, 2004, 09:20 local time
- Place: Chama, NM
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.8901° N, 106.5842° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chama, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8901&lon=-106.5842&mi=10
- Aircraft: DOYES (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BALBAU NL1000STU
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,200 total, 301 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041003024049A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS A REGISTERED PARTICIPANT IN THE ABQ BALLOON FIESTA AND ON AN "ENDURANCE COMPETITION FLIGHT." AT APPROX. 12,000 FT THE AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHICH INITIATED FAILURES IN LOAD TAPES AND GORES OF THE ENVELOPE. THERE WAS CORRESPONDING "WELDING" OR FUSING OF MOST METAL TO METAL POINTS OF CONTACT THROUGHOUT THE AIRCRAFT. THE ANTI COLLISION LIGHT SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY VAPORIZED AND SEVERAL SUPPORT CABLES NEARLY COMPLETELY ARCED THROUGH. THE BASKET HAD CORRESPONDING BURN MARKS IN AREAS ADJACENT TO CABLING. DAMAGE TO THE BASKET INCLUDED LARGE AMOUNTS OF BROKEN WICKER WHICH APPEARED TO BE FROM IMPACT AT A SUBSTANTIAL RATE OF DESCENT. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED BROKEN LIMBS. REPAIR COSTS TO THE ENTIRE AIRCRAFT WERE ESTIMATED TO EXCEED THE REPLACEMENT VALUE OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND THUS DEEMED DESTROYED. REPAIR STATION EVALUATING THIS DAMAGE ALSO HAD VERY SERIOUS "SAFETY RESERVATIONS" IN ANY ATTEMPT TO RETURN THIS SYSTEM TO SERVICE.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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