# NTSB ERA10CA462: Head Balloons AX9 118, N2267U, Hanover, NH, September 1, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 1, 2010, 19:25 local (23:25 UTC) - Place: Hanover, NH - Coordinates: 43.62611, -72.304168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6261&lon=-72.3042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 11, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77184 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA462 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77184/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77184 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA462 ## Probable cause The balloon's encounter with an updraft, resulting in an immediate landing and an intentional collision with a tree. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: updraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX9-118, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034030/cases.md?model=4280102), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Head Balloons AX9-118, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=4280102), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Head Balloons AX9-118, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500/cases.md?model=4280102), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX9-118, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=4280102), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX9-118, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=4280102), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX9-118, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4280102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was conducting a sightseeing flight just prior to sunset when the balloon encountered updrafts. He elected to land in the back yard of a private residence and initiated a descent. He allowed the basket of the balloon to contact the top of the trees to slow down his forward momentum, in an effort to make the landing area. Upon clearing the trees, he observed powerlines in the vicinity and aborted the landing. The pilot immediately selected another backyard for his touchdown point. He observed another large tree and allowed the basket to contact the tree and the basket descended upright next to the tree. The canopy received a minor tear and one passenger sustained a fractured wrist during the landing. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was conducting a sight seeing flight just prior to sunset and the balloon encountered some updrafts. He elected to land in the back yard of a private residence and initiated a descent. He allowed the basket of the balloon to contact the top of the trees to slow down his forward momentum, in order to make the landing area. Upon clearing the trees, he observed power lines and aborted the landing. The pilot immediately selected another backyard for his touchdown point. He observed another large tree and allowed the basket to contact the tree and the basket descended upright next to the tree. The canopy received a minor tear and one passenger sustained a fractured wrist during the landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2267U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2267U-2018-03-01), registration cancelled 2018-03-01, S/N 363, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HEAD BALLOONS INC AX9 118 - Registry model: [Head Balloons AX9 118](https://openairdocs.org/model/head-balloons-ax9-118) (registry code 05637CC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 363 - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Daoust Darrek N - Registered owner: Daoust Darrek N - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Quechee, VT - Destination: Quechee, VT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 3, 2009; flight hours: 953 total, 179 in this make and model, 953 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 160° at 3 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: LEB ## 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 20100901043419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100901043419A), Sep 1, 2010: Head Balloo AX9 118, Hanover, NH, Minor damage. Pilot encountered an updraft during descent and feared he would hit high tension power lines at the FAR edge of his intended landing field. He elected to put… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77184. 475 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 475 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335928&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.