20140920017479I

Pilot checked weather information for a sightseeing flight in a hot-air balloon beginning at 0300 and hourly thereafter until meeting passengers at 0700. Pilot did another check of weather, then he and passengers went to the launch site. One hour flight was planned to takeoff at about 0745. Winds were forecasted to be southeasterly at 3 to 5 knots, increasing to 10 knots at 1100. Winds at the launch site seemed consistent with the forecast. About 25 minutes before takeoff, while the pilot and crew were unloading the balloon from the vehicle and assembling it, the forecast was revised to include southwesterly winds at 12 knots gusting to 18 knots, beginning at 1100.

Inflation and takeoff were normal. After a period of time, pilot noticed low level winds were increasing in velocity, and were becoming gusty. Little steerage was available, and due to the track of the aircraft, few landing opportunities were available. This caused the length of the flight to go past the planned one hour duration. Pilot was concerned about fuel, and was looking for places to land. Pilot selected a field and was manuevering to land when he noticed an obstacle (flagpole) in the area, making it unsafe.

Pilot saw another possible landing area coming into range. He determined to drag the basket through the top of a tree on the upwind side of the landing area, in order to slow the balloon for landing in the area past the tree. Winds were becoming gusty, and due to a downdraft or possible false lift, when the pilot applied heat to raise the balloon to the height of the tree top, the balloon did not rise. As the balloon struck the tree, two panels of the envelope, below the equator, were torn.

The balloon continued on for another ten or fifteen minutes, when the pilot saw another possible landing area. As he made the approach into the area, he passed a house and was descending into the back yard, attempting to avoid a small metal shed and a fenced garden. He saw a power line too late to avoid it, although he attempted to climb the aircraft above it. The balloon basket contacted the upper of two wires, and came to rest against it. The upper wire contacted the lower wire, causing a loud pop and an electrical arc, until the circuit breaker opened.

The envelope was pushed by the wind so that the mouth of the balloon was partially closed. As he applied heat to cause the balloon to climb away from the wires, the nomex scoop of the envelope was burned, resulting in holes and charring of the material.

The balloon then separated from the wires and climbed over and past them. The pilot then vented agressively, descending the balloon into the landing area with a firm touchdown. The wind then blew the balloon further, dragging the balloon approximately 50 feet across the field. It came to rest with the basket laying on its side. The passengers then climbed out, followed by the pilot.

The passengers were sore and bruised. One passenger complained of difficulty walking for several days due to a sore heel; the other passenger had a torn miniscus. The pilot had no injuries. Police, fire, and EMS responded to the scene, and the power company replaced the line.

Damage to the balloon consisted of two torn panels, and the nomex scoop partially destroyed by the burner flame.

At 1000, the forecast was revised for southwesterly winds at 12 gusting to 18 knots. Also at 1000, the observed winds at two airports 20 miles east and west from the landing site were 9 and 5 knots respectively.