CHI00LA270

The balloon contacted power lines shortly after takeoff. The pilot reported he was preoccupied with a radio transmission and with looking for the keys to the chase van, which he had in his pocket. He reported that when he looked up the balloon was close to power lines. He reported they were too close to the power lines to fire the burner. The balloon contacted the power lines. The pilot then vented the balloon and it descended to the ground where he and the passenger exited the basket. The balloon continued across a road where it contacted additional power lines.

On August 25, 2000, at 1820 central daylight time, a Raven AS-55A, N1073R, collided with power lines shortly after takeoff from the Lincoln Fairgrounds, Lincoln, Illinois. The commercial balloon pilot and his passenger were not injured. The balloon was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight originated just prior to the accident.

The pilot reported that after lift-off, "I was preoccupied with radio transmission and looking for keys to the chase van that I had in my pocket. I threw key to ground. It felt like a slight false lift, looked up and was descending and very close to power lines. Told passenger not to touch anything as was too close to power lines to burn. We contacted the lines, there was an arch. I quickly vented off. My decision not to rip out was because my rip line has cable on top and also metal ring where it is secured to my uprights. The vent line has no metal attachment - also due to height."

The pilot reported that the basket slid down the wire to the ground where he and the passenger exited the basket. He reported that the balloon continued across a road where it contacted additional power lines.