# NTSB CEN12LA659: Lindstrand Balloons 210S, N608RR, Albuquerque, NM, September 22, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 22, 2012, 07:54 local (13:54 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.169445, -106.656112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1694&lon=-106.6561&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 8 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-ABQ-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85159 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA659 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85159/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85159 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA659 ## Probable cause The failure of the balloon envelope parachute vent to properly seat, which resulted in the uncontrolled descent of the balloon. The reason the vent did not properly seat during the accident flight could not be determined because the vent operated properly during examination and testing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 210S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md?model=5180030), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 210S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=5180030), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 210S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=5180030), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 210S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=5180030), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 210S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5180030), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 210S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5180030), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Before the flight, the pilot had difficulty getting the balloon envelope parachute vent to seat properly. Once the passengers were loaded, the vent seated, likely due to the weight of the occupants. During the flight, the pilot momentarily opened the parachute vent to allow the balloon to descend to a more desirable altitude. The pilot stated that the vent once again did not seat properly, leaving a 12- to 20-inch gap between the vent and the balloon envelope. He added heat to the envelope in an attempt to reseat the vent, but it did not reseat. The balloon continued to descend and contacted the terrain, seriously injuring one of the eight passengers. A postaccident examination and testing of the vent system did not reveal any reason why the parachute vent would not have operated normally during the flight. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 2012, about 0754 mountain daylight time, a Lindstrand Balloons 210S, N608RR, collided with the terrain during a local flight in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pilot and seven passengers were not injured. One passenger suffered a serious injury. The balloon, which was operated by Rainbow Ryders, sustained minor damage. The revenue sightseeing flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at 0742. The pilot reported that the accident flight was the first time he had flown this particular balloon for the operator. He stated he did a thorough passenger briefing and preflight, and everything seemed functional. After the balloon was inflated, he set the parachute vent and the RDS (smart vent). He stated that it took two attempts to seat the parachute vent as it was off center. He stated that he loaded the passengers and the parachute vent seated properly and worked to his satisfaction. The pilot reported that while at 500 feet above ground level, he allowed the balloon to cool as they approached the Rio Grande River. He stated he then noticed they were drifting too far east, so he gave a “small 2 second” pull on the parachute vent line in order to descend into a more desirable wind direction. The pilot stated that because of the initial trouble with seating the parachute vent, he looked up to make sure the parachute vent seated and noticed that there was a 12- to 20-inch gap between the vent and the balloon envelope. He applied a double burner, 6-second burn, in an attempt to re-center the vent, without success. The pilot stated he locked both burners in the on position; however, the balloon descended at a rate of 500 to 600 feet per minute. The pilot stated he turned off both quick shut off valves prior to the basket contacting a sand bar in the Rio Grande River. The pilot stated that five of the eight passengers assumed the emergency landing position. The remaining three passengers went down into the basket. One of the passengers in the bottom of the basket suffered a broken ankle. The balloon envelope sustained most of the minor damage as it was being removed from the sandbar. The balloon was taken to a certified repair station where the envelope was repaired and inspected, and an inflation test was conducted. The deflation and parachute vent systems on the balloon were also inspected. The tests and inspections failed to reveal any malfunction of the vent and deflation systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N608RR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N608RR-2019-06-29), registration cancelled 2019-06-29, S/N 5414, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LINDSTRAND BALLOONS 210S - Registry model: [Lindstrand Balloons 210S](https://openairdocs.org/model/lindstrand-balloons-210s) (registry code 5180030) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5414 - Airframe hours: 425.5 - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Rainbow Ryders Inc - Registered owner: Rainbow Ryders Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 2012 - Departed: Albuquerque, NM - Destination: Albuquerque, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review May 28, 2011; flight hours: 5,565 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: ABQ ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20120922021999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120922021999A), Sep 22, 2012: Lindstrand Balloons 210S, Albuquerque, NM, Minor damage. On September 22, 2012 at 0745 MDT, a hot air balloon, N608RR, a Lindstrand model 210S, experienced a hard landing one mile north of the montano bridge, west… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 29, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85159. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379175&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Postaccident Inspection (item 2, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379176&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Postaccident%20Inspection-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.