# Incident 20041013026259I: Avianw SKYHAWK, Spokane, WA, October 13, 2004

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 13, 2004
- Place: Spokane, WA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.6588° N, 117.4260° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spokane, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6588&lon=-117.4260&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5037G, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5037G) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Avian Balloon SKYHAWK (registry code 0900104, https://openairdocs.org/model/avian-balloon-skyhawk) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AVIANW SKYHAWK
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041013026259I

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE STUDENT PILOT WAS TAKING A PRIVATE PILOT PRACTICAL FLIGHT TEST WITH AN FAA INSPECTOR. AFTER TAKEOFF THE WINDS WERE NOT AS FORECAST AND THE BALLOON DRIFTED OVER A FORESTED AREA WITH LIMITED SUITABLE LANDING SITES. THE STUDENT PILOT MADE ONE SATISFACTORY TOUCH AND GO AND THEN CONTINUED DRIFTING OVER THE FORESTED AREA. UPON LOCATING A SECOND AREA SUITABLE FOR LANDING THE STUDENT PILOT MADE WHAT APPEARED TO BE A NORMAL APPROACH TO THE EDGE OF A FIELD HOWEVER THE TOUCHDOWN WAS HARD AND THE MOUTH OF THE ENVELOPE HIT THE GROUND AND THE BASKET BOUNCED. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS BURNING ON SHORT FINAL AND FAILED TO REMOVE HIS HAND FROM THE BURNER CONTROL WHEN THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN. THIS CAUSED HIM TO INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATE THE BURNER CONTROL AS THE ENVELOPE LEANED OVER CAUSING THE FABRIC NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE ENVELOPE TO BE BURNED. THE ADDITIONAL HEAT APPLIED INSIDE THE ENVELOPE CAUSED THE BALLOON TO BECOME AIRBORNE AGAIN. SOME MELTED FABRIC FROM THE ENVELOPE FELL ONTO THE ARM OF THE STUDENT PILOT AND HE TRANSFERRED THE CONTROLS TO THE FAA INSPECTOR. THE INSPECTOR FLEW THE BALLOON TO A LANDING IN A NEARBY FIELD WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. INSPECTION OF THE BALLOON INDICATED MINOR DAMAGE.

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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