What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Balloon was being deflated after landing on the transportation trailer when a flash fire occurred. The pilot indicated he bumped the burner control but did not have a pilot light operating. The release of gas caused a flash fire that injured 5 people including the pilot. This is an open investagation. Review of the POH indicated that recommended procedures were not followed by the pilot in commander. Pilot removed a burner from the mount while passengers were still in the basket. A flash fire occurred which caused injuries to passengers and pilot. The burners were removed and sent to a facility for testing. The burners were tested at the facility for leaks and proper operation. The burners function normally without any anomalies.
As the FAA filed it
BALLOON WAS BEING DEFLATED AFTER LANDING ON THE TRANSPORTATION TRAILER WHEN A FLASH FIRE OCCURRED. THE PILOT INDICATED HE BUMPED THE BURNER CONTROL BUT DID NOT HAVE A PILOT LIGHT OPERATING. THE RELEASE OF GAS CAUSED A FLASH FIRE THAT INJURED 5 PEOPLE INCLUDING THE PILOT. THIS IS AN OPEN INVESTAGATION. REVIEW OF THE POH INDICATED THAT RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES WERE NOT FOLLOWED BY THE PILOT IN COMMANDER. PILOT REMOVED A BURNER FROM THE MOUNT WHILE PASSENGERS WERE STILL IN THE BASKET. A FLASH FIRE OCCURRED WHICH CAUSED INJURIES TO PASSENGERS AND PILOT. THE BURNERS WERE REMOVED AND SENT TO A FACILITY FOR TESTING. THE BURNERS WERE TESTED AT THE FACILITY FOR LEAKS AND PROPER OPERATION. THE BURNERS FUNCTION NORMALLY WITHOUT ANY ANOMALIES.
Other reports on N1623L · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.