# NTSB DEN88LA004: Balloon Works Firefly 7-B, N15260, Rio Rancho, NM, October 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 5, 1987, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Rio Rancho, NM
- Location: 35.2334° N, 106.6645° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rio Rancho, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2334&lon=-106.6645&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17399
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17399/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA004

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Fire, landing - flare/touchdown
  - balloon equipment,burner system - deployed inadvertently (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPTD THAT SHE HAD VENTED THE BALLOON TO LAND. SHE SAID IT TAKES BOTH OF HER HANDS TO OPEN THE VENT AND HOLD IT OPEN. 'WHEN THE BALLOON HIT THE GROUND THE BURNER WENT ON BY ITSELF, WIDE OPEN. THE ENVELOPE WAS SWINGING FROM THE CONTACT OF THE BASKET WITH THE GROUND AND WAS IN THE PATH OF THE BURNER ALMOST INSTANTLY.' THE ENVELOPE WAS DAMAGED BY THE FIRE BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSP EXAMINED THE BURNER AFTER THE ACCD. HE REPORTED THAT 'BEFORE TEARDOWN THE BURNER ASSY WAS INSTALLED ON THE GONDOLA AND OPERATIONALLY TESTED. THE VALVE WAS OPERATED NORMALLY APPROX 10 ON/OFF CYCLES. THE VALVE WAS PRESSURE TESTED AND NO LEAKS WERE NOTED. THE BLAST VALVE WAS THEN REMOVED FROM THE BURNER ASSY AND DISASSEMBLED. THE DIMENSION BETWEEN THE ACTUATING LEVER AND THE BONNET WAS APPROX .006 INSTEAD OF THE REQ MIN OF .010. THIS WAS DUE TO AN EXTRA TEFLON WASHER INSTALLED BETWEEN THE LEVER AND BONNET, HOWEVER, THE OPERATION OF THE VALVE WAS NOT AFFECTED.' NO OTHER DISCREPENCIES WERE NOTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15260](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15260-2012-08-07), registration cancelled 2012-08-07, S/N 10978, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 7-B (FIREFLY 7-)
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7-b) (registry code 10501A9) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 10978
- Airframe hours: 251
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Janet L. Hodges
- Registered owner: Janet L Hodges
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 1987, 30 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; flight hours: 90 total, 90 in this make and model, 79 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19871005060199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871005060199A), Oct 5, 1987: Balwks FIREFLY7B, Rio Rancho, NM, Substantial damage. Had to use both hands on balloon vent to hold it open on landing therefore unable to control burner. Burned envelope

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.

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