# NTSB ERA17LA029: Aerostar International RX8, N9015Y, Mount Ulla, NC, October 22, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 22, 2016, 08:38 local (12:38 UTC) - Place: Mount Ulla, NC - Coordinates: 35.692779, -80.710556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6928&lon=-80.7106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94294/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94294 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA029 ## Probable cause The passenger's failure to follow the pilot's instructions for properly securing herself during landing, which resulted in her serious injury when the balloon landed hard and the basket was dragged. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel): following instructions](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Aerostar International RX 8, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7487008), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis Before departing on a revenue sightseeing balloon flight, the commercial pilot briefed the passengers about landing procedures. After being airborne for nearly 1 hour with increasing wind (which was forecast), the pilot identified a landing field and initiated an approach. Before landing, he again briefed the passengers that they needed to hold onto the handles with both hands, and to expect a "bouncy and hard landing." As the balloon approached the field, the pilot noted that the surface winds had significantly increased and informed the passengers to face the direction of travel with their knees bent, to expect a bounce, and that, after touchdown, the basket may tip onto its side. Before touchdown, he had to again instruct one passenger to hold on; he then pulled the envelope deflation line. After a hard landing, the basket leaned onto its side, and the passenger who was instructed to hold on and who was only using one hand to do so, put her arms outside the basket. Another passenger grabbed her, and the basket then became airborne slightly, followed by another landing. The basket tipped over, and the balloon was dragged a short distance across the field before stopping. One passenger sustained a fractured vertebrae and wrist, while the other occupants were not injured. ## Factual narrative On October 22, 2016, about 0838 eastern daylight time, an Aerostar International, Inc. RX-8 balloon, N9015Y, registered to and operated by Up Up Away Hot Air Balloon Company, incurred minor damage while landing in a field near Mount Ulla, North Carolina. The balloon was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a revenue sightseeing flight. The commercial pilot and three passengers sustained no injuries, while the remaining passenger was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated about 53 minutes earlier from Statesville Regional Airport (SVH), Statesville, North Carolina. The pilot stated that the balloon was part of the Carolina BalloonFest, and prior to the flight he attended a pilot briefing and was informed that the wind would be picking up after 0900. In advance of the flight he informed the passengers of the procedures related to landing stance, to hold the handles inside the basket, and to keep their arms and legs inside the basket. After takeoff the balloon drifted in an east-southeasterly direction, and, due to the time aloft, the pilot elected to land in a hay field. Prior to landing, he informed the passengers that that they needed to hold on and to expect a "bouncy and hard landing." On approach to the field, he noticed the surface winds had significantly increased and informed the passengers to face the direction of travel with their knees bent, and that after touchdown the basket may tip on its side. He also instructed them to, "put down your cameras and hang on with both hands", and that they were going to bounce. The husband of the injured passenger reported his wife was using one hand to secure her camera that was around her neck, and her other hand was holding onto the basket railing. Just prior to touchdown, the pilot pulled the deflation line and reported a hard landing. After ground contact, the basket leaned on its side and the passenger who was holding on with one hand put her arms out of the basket. He then informed all to keep their arms and legs inside, and another passenger grabbed the passenger who had put her arms outside. The basket then became airborne shortly followed by another ground contact. The balloon was dragged on the ground for a short distance, and after coming to rest, the passenger who had put her arms outside at touchdown complained of pain. The pilot identified their location, called 911, and the injured passenger was transported to a hospital for treatment. Her injuries included a fractured vertebrae and wrist. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Weather reports taken at SVH reported the wind at the time of departure from 260° at 4 kts. The wind remained between 3 and 4 kts from the southwest between 0745 and 0825, while the next observation at 0845, or about 7 minutes after the accident, depicted the wind from 280° at 8 kts. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Passenger Briefings and ManagementAccording to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Balloon Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-11A (2008), the various aspects of landing a balloon are discussed and states in part:In any branch of aviation, takeoff and landing are the most critical maneuvers. In ballooning, landing is number one. The vast majority of ballooning accidents and injuries occur on landing. This handbook also discusses passenger briefings and management indicating that "hold on tight" in two places is probably the least followed of the landing instructions. It goes on to say that most passengers are not mentally prepared for the shock that can occur when a 7,000 pound balloon contacts the ground. Passengers should be reminded to hold on tight, and the correct places to hold, whether they are factory-built passenger handles or places in the balloon's basket the pilot considers appropriate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9015Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9015Y-2022-08-11), registration cancelled 2022-08-11, S/N RX8-3293, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL RX8 - Registry model: [Aerostar International RX 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8) (registry code 7487008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: RX8-3293 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 528 - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Up Up Away Hot Air Balloon Co - Registered owner: Up Up Away Hot Air Balloon Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 11, 2015 - Departed: SVH, Statesville, NC - Destination: Mount Ulla, NC - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2015; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 614 total, 427 in this make and model, 614 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: SVH, 13 nm away ## 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 20161022022819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161022022819A), Oct 22, 2016: Aerostar International Inc RX 8, Mount Ulla, NC, Minor damage. On October 22, 2016, about 1240 eastern standard time, N9015Y, an RX8-3293 Aerostar International Inc balloon landed in a field ending a sightseeing flight.… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94294. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464041&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Passenger Statements (item 2, .PDF, 848 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464042&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statements-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464043&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversation (item 4, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464044&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Investigative Photographs (item 5, .PDF, 544 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464045&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Master.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.