# Accident 20170224005499A: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7, Statesville, NC, February 24, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 24, 2017, 15:18 local time
- Place: Statesville, NC
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.8575° N, 80.7447° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8575&lon=-80.7447&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7423D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7423D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 (registry code 1050100, https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 7
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,090 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA155) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170224005499A

## Narrative

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

ON 2/24/17 AT APPROXIMATELY 1705 EST, THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED ON A VFR FLIGHT IN A FIREFLY 7 BALLOON, N7423D WITH THE INTENT TO PRACTICE LANDINGS.  THE WINDS WERE REPORTED AS 220 DEGREES AT 3 KNOTS ON THE SURFACE.

15 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE FIRST APPROACH AND LANDING ATTEMPT WAS MADE INTO AN OPEN 15 ACRE FIELD.  AS THE BALLOON CROSSED THE TREE LINE, THE STUDENT WAS AT THE CONTROLS AND STARTED A DECENT TOWARDS THE FIELD.  THE BASKET MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AND REBOUNDED IN THE AIR.  PRIOR TO THE SECOND LANDING, THE STUDENT PILOT BRACED HIS RIGHT LEG ON THE SIDE OF THE BASKET TO PREPARE FOR LANDING.  AS THE BASKET TOUCHED DOWN, THE STUDENT PILOT FELT HIS LEFT ANKLE TURN AND SNAP.  THE INSTRUCTOR IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE VALVE LINE TO DEFLATE THE BALLOON AND PROCEEDED TO CALL FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.   NO DAMAGE TO THE BASKET, OR ENVELOPE OCCURRED.

## 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 GAA17CA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA155), Feb 24, 2017: Balloon Works Firefly 7 (N7423D), Statesville, NC, no damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s decision to place one foot on the balloon basket and one foot on the floor during the landing, which resulted in a broken ankle.

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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