# Incident 20160715013789I: Aerostar International Inc RX-7, Jackson, MI, July 15, 2016

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 15, 2016, 08:00 local time
- Place: Jackson, MI
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.2434° N, 84.4049° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Jackson, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2434&lon=-84.4049&mi=10
- Aircraft: N36497, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N36497) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International RX-7 (registry code 7487007, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC RX-7
- Reported engine: N/A N/A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 180 total, 180 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160715013789I

## Narrative

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

WHILE DESCENDING TO THE EAST INTO A RISING SUN FOR LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD THE UPPER SUSPENSION FRAMEWORK OF THE BALLOON GONDOLA STRUCK AND BROKE A RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC SERVICE LINE.

BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THEY WERE ACTIVELY SCANNING FOR OBSTRUCTIONS DURING THE APPROACH NEITHER SAW THE POWER LINE UNTIL JUST BEFORE IT STRUCK THE GONDOLA SUSPENSION FRAME WORK.

AFTER STRIKING AND SEVERING THE ELECTRICAL LINE THE BALLOON CONTINUED AND MADE A NORMAL LANDING WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

DURING AN ON SITE INSPECTION OF THE LANDING AREA BY THE INVESTIGATION INSPECTOR IT WAS NOTED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRE WAS SUSPENDED ACROSS THE FIELD FOR A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 200' BY TWO UTILITY POLES WHICH WERE OBSCURED BY TREES BORDERING THE FIELD ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES.

INSPECTION OF THE GONDOLA BY A FSDO AW INSPECTOR INDICATED THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE GONDOLA OR SUSPENSION LINES OTHER THAN A SMALL BURN MARK ON ONE TURN BUCKLE MADE BY AN APPARENT ELECTRICAL ARC.

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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