# Accident 20070702014899A: Cambal Z77, Battle Creek, MI, July 2, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 2, 2007, 20:45 local time
- Place: Battle Creek, MI
- Airport: W K Kellogg
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other Ground Ops
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.3064° N, 85.2211° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3064&lon=-85.2211&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4021M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4021M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cameron Balloons US Z-77 (registry code 1880302, https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-z-77) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CAMBAL Z77
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 895 total, 31 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI07CA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA189) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070702014899A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY IN LIGHT TO NO-WIND CONDITIONS. AS THE ENVELOPE BEGAN DEFLATING AND COLLAPSING TOWARD BURNER EQUIPMENT, PILOT BEGAN ROTATING BURNER ASSEMBLY AWAY FROM ENVELOPE. ENVELOPE-SKIRT MATERIAL INADVERTENTLY DRUG ACROSS FUEL LEVERS CAUSING RAW FUEL TO BE DISPERSED INTO THE ENVELOPE CAVITY AND IGNITING, CAUSING ENVELOPE AND BASKET TO CATCH FIRE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI07CA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA189), Jul 3, 2007: Cameron Balloons Z-77 (N4021M), Battle Creek, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The whisper burner's fuel valve opening for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a fire after landing. A factor in the accident was the balloon envelope's parachute top not reseating.

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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