20070121002239A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Genbal AX6GENERAL · San Martin, CA · January 21, 2007

Date: January 21, 2007 · 08:00 local
Place: San Martin, CA
Airport: Santa Clara County Airport
Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2447Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX07CA094
Reported as: Genbal AX6GENERAL
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 987 total40 in this make and model2 in the last 90 days

N2447ZRegistration cancelled Nov 7, 2012 · General Balloon AX-6S/N 447 · Built 1978 Airframe modelGeneral Balloon AX-6 Engine modelNONENone

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.

(-23) The pilot failed to use the propane burner early enough to create sufficient hot air to arrest the landing descent. The effect of cold weather reducing the burner output (propane pressure) was a surprise to the pilot. During the landing attempt the balloon was blown into power lines causing electrical arcing which severed five of the twelve cables securing the basket and burned a hole in the skirt.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT FAILED TO USE THE PROPANE BURNER EARLY ENOUGH TO CREATE SUFFICIENT HOT AIR TO ARREST THE LANDING DESCENT. THE EFFECT OF COLD WEATHER REDUCING THE BURNER OUTPUT (PROPANE PRESSURE) WAS A SURPRISE TO THE PILOT. DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT THE BALLOON WAS BLOWN INTO POWER LINES CAUSING ELECTRICAL ARCING WHICH SEVERED FIVE OF THE TWELVE CABLES SECURING THE BASKET AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SKIRT.

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 LAX07CA094Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSan Martin, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from power lines.Jan 21, 2007 · Substantial damage