# NTSB FTW96LA140: Aerostar Raven S49A, N6374L, Vidalia, LA, March 3, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 3, 1996, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Vidalia, LA - Coordinates: 31.559642, -91.43991 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5596&lon=-91.4399&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 4 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 22, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19778 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19778/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA140 ## Probable cause the pilot-in-command's inadequate supervision of the ground crewmember. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, standing - miscellaneous,lighter-than-air craft/equipment - entangled (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During inflation of the hot air balloon, a ground crewmember received serious injury when the handling rope he was holding became entangled in the inflation fan. Review of the manufacturer's flight manual revealed that it contained the following cautionary statement: 'Keep burner skirt handling lines, other balloon components, and personnel clear of the inflation fan to prevent entanglement with the propeller.' ## Factual narrative On March 3, 1996, at 1730 central standard time, an Aerostar Raven S49A, N6374L, registered to and operated by the Geronimo Corporation, was being inflated near Vidalia, Louisiana, when one of the ground crewmembers received serious injury. The private pilot and three other ground crewmembers were not injured and the balloon was not damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the planned personal local flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the crewmember stationed at the left side of the balloon, near the inflation fan, was holding onto the handling ropes during the cold inflation. As the pilot prepared to ignite the burner and continue the inflation process, she heard "a loud noise" and the crewmember fell toward her. The pilot saw that the handling rope was "wrapped around" the crewmember's thumb which was "bound against the fan cage." The rope was cut to free the crewmember and he was transported to a hospital where his glove was removed and it was discovered that his left thumb had been severed. Review of the manufacturer's flight manual for the balloon revealed that it contained the following cautionary statement: "Keep burner skirt handling lines, other balloon components, and personnel clear of the inflation fan to prevent entanglement with the propeller." The pilot reported that she had checked to see if the crewmember "was wearing any loose clothing that could be dangerous if he happened to go near the fan." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6374L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6374L), registered now, S/N S49A-3110, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar RAVEN S49A - Registry model: [Aerostar International RAVEN S49A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-raven-s49a) (registry code 7484049) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: S49A-3110 - Airframe hours: 180 - Engines: unknown - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Geronimo Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 8, 1996, 0 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; private; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 31 total, 31 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - 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 19960303046259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960303046259A), Mar 3, 1996: Deerpark, LA, No damage. (-23) While under the supervision of an instructor pilot, a student pilot was cold inflating the balloon envelope. A ground crew person wrapped a ground… 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.