# NTSB CHI05CA209: National Ballooning 751-12, N3219T, Indianola, IA, August 2, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 1, 2005, 19:09 local (Aug 2, 2005, 00:09 UTC) - Place: Indianola, IA - Coordinates: 41.602779, -93.949165 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6028&lon=-93.9492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 62271 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62271/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA209 ## Probable cause The in-flight fire due to the loose fuel line connection as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight. A factor was the power lines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, climb - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - balloon equipment,burner system - loose part/bolt/nut/clamp/etc (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - altitude/clearance - not possible, pilot in command - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis A free balloon sustained substantial damage during a forced landing when it impacted power lines after an in-flight fire. The pilot reported that during the preflight checks of the balloon he connected the two liquid propane lines and the pilot light vapor line properly. The pilot reported the balloon lifted off the field and that the burner was functioning normally. When the balloon was about 700 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot observed flames "coming from both the pilot light hose and the tank hose (right side of aircraft and the side where two tanks are manifolded together)." He attempted to put out the fire with his gloved hand, but was unsuccessful. He then shut off the tanks at the tank valves on the right side of the balloon, but the fire continued. He reported that an emergency landing was imminent so he shut off the third tank on the left side of the balloon. Then he rechecked to make sure the manifold valves were shut off. The bottom of the balloon's basket hit the power lines. The balloon continued to descend until the basket impacted the ground. The basket tipped over when it hit the ground, and the pilot and passenger exited the basket. The pilot used the on-board fire extinguisher to put out the fire that was still burning at the hose-burner connection. The pilot reported that once the balloon was removed from the power lines, he retrieved the envelope and basket. He disconnected the fuel lines and the pilot light line while the ground crew put the envelope away. During the inspection of the balloon, the burner and basket were reassembled. The pilot reconnected the fuel lines and the pilot light line. During the burner operational check there were no propane leaks and the burner functioned. Pictures of the propane bottle provided by the fire department appeared to show frost on the pilot light valve. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 2005, at 1909 central daylight time, a National Ballooning 751-12, N3219T, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing when it impacted power lines near Indianola, Iowa, after an in-flight fire. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal balloon flight departed a field near Indianola at 1902 as part of the National Balloon Classic race event. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that during the preflight checks of the balloon, he had connected the two liquid propane lines and the pilot light vapor line with the appropriate wrenches. He reported that he did a "sniff" test of each of the tanks and burner connections. He did the same for the pilot light line. He reported that he did not smell any propane leaking from any of the connections. He lit the pilot light and tested each of the three propane tanks for proper operation. He reported that, "all tanks were functioning at approximately 150 psi." The pilot reported the balloon lifted off the field and that the burner was functioning normally. He reported that the balloon was about 700 feet above ground level (agl) when he observed flames "coming from both the pilot light hose and the tank hose (right side of aircraft and the side where two tanks are manifolded together)." He attempted to put out the fire with his gloved hand, but was unsuccessful. He then shut off the tanks at the tank valves on the right side of the balloon, but the fire continued. He reported that an emergency landing was imminent so he shut off the third tank on the left side of the balloon. Then he rechecked to make sure the manifold valves were shut off. The pilot reported that the bottom of the balloon's basket hit the power lines. The balloon continued to descend until the basket impacted the ground. The basket tipped over when it hit the ground, and the pilot and passenger exited the basket. The pilot used the on-board fire extinguisher to put out the fire that was still burning at the hose-burner connection. The pilot reported that once the balloon was removed from the power lines, he retrieved the envelope and basket. He disconnected the fuel lines and the pilot light line while the ground crew put the envelope away. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors examined the balloon at the accident site. The inspector reported that the burner and basket were reassembled. The inspector monitored the pilot's preflight checks and observed the pilot connecting the fuel lines and the pilot light line. No propane leaks were noted during the burner operational checks. The burner functioned normally. The FAA inspector reported that, "Pictures of the propane bottle provided by the fire department appeared to show frost on the pilot light valve." The inspection of maintenance records revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3219T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3219T-2018-03-05), registration cancelled 2018-03-05, S/N 0124, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: National Ballooning 751-12 - Registry model: [National Ballooning 752-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/national-ballooning-752-12) (registry code 6113312) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 0124 - Airframe hours: 293 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kelly B. Shaw - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2005, 8 hours before - Departed: Indianloa, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; flight hours: 72 total, 66 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20050802015929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050802015929A), Aug 2, 2005: Natbal 75212, Indianola, IA, Substantial damage. (-23) During climb at approximately 700 feet AGL, flames were noticed coming from the manifold where the three propane lines connect to the burner. Attempts to… 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.