Aircraft model · Balloon · Balloon · registry code 4280200

Manufacturer (registry)
HEAD BALLOONS INC
Model
AX8-88
Registry code
4280200
Registered
86 aircraft
Type
Balloon
Engines
None
Seats
4
Weight class
Up to 12,499 lb
Certification
Type certificated
Data sheet
TCDSA29SO
Holder
Head Balloons Inc.

Model codes come from the FAA registry’s reference file. ADs are matched to them by model name and maker.

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Aircraft by year built · 94

1983Registered nowDeregistered2026
Aircraft by the year they were built: 94 aircraft
19831
19841
19854
19864
19875
19885
19892
19903
19912
19928
19932
19942
19952
19984
19994
20001
20023
20035
20042
20053
20061
20071
20082
20093
20103
20112
20122
20131
20141
20152
20161
20173
20193
20224
20231
20241

Airworthiness directives that may apply · 1

ADs whose products match this airframe model. Each AD’s applicability may narrow it by serial number, part number or configuration.

Airframe · Head Balloons AX8-88

AD 2013-03-10HardwareEffective Mar 19, 2013
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT d.ad_number, d.status, d.subject, d.effective_date
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_directive.parquet' d
  WHERE d.ad_id IN (SELECT ad_id FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_model_directive.parquet' WHERE aircraft_model_code IN ('4280200'))
  ORDER BY coalesce(d.effective_date, d.publication_date, d.issue_date) DESC, d.ad_number DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

Information bulletins that may apply · 1

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT s.saib_number, any_value(s.title) AS title, max(s.issue_date) AS issue_date, any_value(s.status) AS status
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_saib.parquet' s
  WHERE s.saib_id IN (SELECT saib_id FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_model_saib.parquet' WHERE aircraft_model_code IN ('4280200'))
  GROUP BY s.saib_number ORDER BY issue_date DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

Registered aircraft · 86

See all 86 registered aircraft
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT n_number, serial_number, year_manufactured, status, registrant_name, registrant_city, registrant_state
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_registration.parquet'
  WHERE aircraft_model_code IN ('4280200')
  ORDER BY n_number"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB investigations · 11

Aircraft matched to this model through the registry, by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model.

NTSB ERA23LA315Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHead Balloons AX8-88 · Guilford, CTThe pilot’s inadequate supervision of the boarding process and the ground crewmember’s failure to immediately let go of the balloon after it began an inadvertent climb.Jul 24, 2023 · N4522E · No damageNTSB WPR20CA262Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportHead AX8 88 · Jackson, WYThe balloon pilot’s inability to maintain altitude during un-forecasted weather, which resulted in a hard landing.Aug 3, 2020 · N45303 · Minor damageNTSB ERA15CA035Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportHead AX8 88B · Montevallo, ALThe pilot's decision to conduct a landing to a confined area in high wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent injury to a passenger.Oct 25, 2014 · N20671 · No damageNTSB ERA11CA353Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportHead Balloons AX8-88 · Summerdale, ALThe balloon pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude/clearance from a tree line during the landing approach.Jun 18, 2011 · N8190V · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10CA543Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportHead Balloons AX8-88 · Ft. Wayne, INThe pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for the landing.Sep 12, 2010 · N2064W · No damageNTSB CHI06CA160Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportHead Balloons AX8-88 · Gretna, NEA run-on landing encountered by the pilot of the balloon due to the prevailing winds. The unfavorable winds were a contributing factor.Jun 12, 2006 · N83030 · No damageNTSB FTW04CA193Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportHead Balloons AX8-88 · Baton Rouge, LAThe pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for landing. A contributing factor was the high vegetation.Aug 9, 2004 · N83063 · No damageNTSB SEA02LA122Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHead Balloons AX8-88 · Victor, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance from the power lines during the landing resulting in the balloon's impacting the wires. Contributing factors were the power lines and strong winds existent at the time.Jul 5, 2002 · N4522E · Substantial damageNTSB LAX97LA159Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHead Balloons AX8-88 · San Diego, CAThe pilot's decision to increase sink rate to avoid flying into an obstacle with insufficient altitude remaining to reduce the sink rate prior to impact with the ground.Apr 14, 1997 · N380P · Substantial damageNTSB FTW95LA323Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHead Balloons AX8-88 · Mesquite, TXThe pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and the crewmember's failure to hold onto the basket. A factor was the high wind.Jul 29, 1995 · N4516R · Minor damageNTSB FTW89FA081Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportHead Balloons AX8-88 · Troy, TXImproper planning/decision by the pilot, and inadequate supervision by the check pilot, which resulted in their failure to maintain clearance from the tree during the landing. Factors related to the accident were: the high wind & tree(s).Apr 16, 1989 · N4510H · Substantial damage
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c.\"mKey\" = a.case_mkey
  WHERE a.aircraft_model_code IN ('4280200')
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

FAA incident reports · 17

Matched to this model through the registry, by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model.

See all 17 incident reports
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT report_number, event_date, event_type, city, state, aircraft_make, aircraft_model, aircraft_damage, fatal_injuries, n_number
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_incident_report.parquet'
  WHERE aircraft_model_code IN ('4280200')
  ORDER BY event_date DESC, report_number DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

Service difficulty reports

No reports name this modelGeneral aviation reporting is voluntary.

STCs that may be installed · 10

Approved for this model: the STC’s model list names it on its data sheet, or a series that includes it. The registry doesn’t record which STCs an aircraft has.

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT s.stc_number, s.description, s.holder, s.status, s.status_date, m.matched_model
  FROM (
    SELECT stc_number, min(matched_model) AS matched_model
    FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_model_stc.parquet'
    WHERE aircraft_model_code IN ('4280200')
    GROUP BY stc_number
  ) m JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_stc.parquet' s USING (stc_number)
  ORDER BY s.status = 'Current' DESC, s.status_date DESC, s.stc_number"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.