FTW98FA089

The Global Hilton Roziere gas balloon experienced a rupture of its main gas cell's bottom 10 to 12 minutes after it reached its ceiling. The pilots continued to hear pops, rips, and tearing as the balloon descended to approximately 9,000 feet msl. Eighteen propane bottles and three oxygen bottles surrounded the gondola. The ground crew reported surface winds of 30 to 35 knots, and the surface terrain was rugged with canyons and rock formations. The crew decided that a safe heavy weight standup landing would not be possible, and they parachuted to the ground. The unmanned balloon continued flight for 7 hours and 375 nm until it impacted wires and was consumed by postimpact fire. The manufacturer stated that the main gas cell had 13.273 square feet of opening for the two appendixes to release surplus gas at ceiling altitude. Postaccident examination revealed that the balloon appendixes had only 8.96 square feet of opening. The manufacturer modified appendixes were buckled to the balloon's side, which further restricted the openings by 56%. The base circle in the bottom of the main gas cell 41 inches in diameter, 21.75% smaller than design specifications.

History of flight

On January 9, 1998, at 0713 mountain standard time, a Cameron R-420 Roziere gas balloon, N298AR, known as the "Global Hilton," was substantially damaged when the bottom of the main gas cell ruptured near Yeso, New Mexico. During their emergency parachute landings, the commercial pilot-in-command (PIC) received minor injuries and the commercial second-in-command (SIC) was seriously injured. The balloon was being operated by World Flight Limited Company of Albuquerque, New Mexico, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Albuquerque, New Mexico, at approximately 0618.

The project manager stated that the flight was intended to be an around-the-world flight in the jet stream. The jet stream is a boundary layer between the troposphere and the stratosphere, normally found between 25,000 and 40,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The project manager stated that weather conditions dictated a launch window between December 15, 1997, and March 15, 1998.

The ground crew calculated the amount of helium gas needed to be approximately 176,400 cubic feet, or 42 percent capacity, based on a gross weight of 11,505 pounds and the free lift desired by the ground crew. This calculation included enough helium to provide a normal/recommended lift factor. An additional lift factor was used due to the Sandia mountains located 6 nm east, and two temperature inversions located at 2,000 feet above ground level (agl) and 10,000 feet msl. The SIC stated that a 400 pound ballast had unintentionally been left on the ground. The launch master stated that the balloon's total free lift, at lift off, was approximately 1,200 pounds.

The balloon was launched, during the hours of darkness, from Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta Park (elevation 5,280 feet). Radar data indicated that the balloon's initial rate of climb accelerated to approximately 1,500 feet per minute (fpm). The SIC, who was flying the balloon, reported that he recognized the accelerating rate of climb and immediately began "valving off" helium to slow the climb rate, which took approximately 3 to 4 minutes. At approximately 0633, the balloon's climb rate was stabilized between 200 and 300 fpm, which the SIC maintained until 25,500 feet msl.

The SIC stated that he slowed the rate of climb to approximately 100 fpm as they approached their initial float altitude of 27,500 feet msl (see attached radar data). He reported that the sun's rays began shinning on the balloon's envelope approximately 10 minutes before leveling off. He then he noticed helium flowing down one appendix, and hesitate at a pinched point (a buckle attachment point) approximately 15 to 20 feet above the bottom opening. The SIC said that helium continued down the appendix, and "bubbled" out the bottom opening. The PIC viewed the other appendix, and he observed that it had not fully inflated. He reported that he did not see helium gas exit the opening at the bottom of the appendix.

Both pilots reported that after level off all was quiet for approximately 10 to 12 minutes, and at 0713, they heard a loud "whoosh" and felt a push followed by a mild bounce. The balloon immediately began to rise. Both crew members looked up through a porthole and saw that the bottom of the main gas cell, or diaphragm, had ruptured. The PIC estimated that 62 percent of the diaphragm was open, and the pilot controlled gas valve in the top of the gas cell could be seen. Radar data indicated that the balloon rose to approximately 32,500 feet. As the PIC declared an emergency, the SIC began "valving off" helium gas to establish a 300 to 500 fpm rate of descent. Both crewmembers said they heard continual "pops, rips, and tearing" as the balloon descended. At approximately 18,000 feet msl, the crew heard a particularly loud noise, and the balloon began to rotate.

At approximately 12,000 feet msl, the crew depressurized the gondola and photographed the ruptured diaphragm. The crew said they considered a heavyweight landing, but the approximate 3,500 pounds of propane and 60 liters of liquid oxygen fastened around the gondola would have required ideal conditions for the landing. The ground crew advised the pilots that surface winds were 30 knots with occasional gusts to 35 knots, and that the terrain was rugged with canyons and rock formations. This report, along with the flight crew's belief that the structural integrity of the envelope had deteriorated to an unsafe level, facilitated the crew's decision to bail out.

The flight crew climbed out of the gondola/capsule with little difficulty, but had to assist each other in getting through the load tapes supporting the 18 propane bottles surrounding the gondola. They said that it took approximately 10 minutes to get into a position where they could jump from the gondola. The PIC stated that he manually tied open the helium control valve before following the SIC to the ground at 0922. Radar data indicated that the flight crew jumped from the balloon at approximately 9,000 feet msl (4,025 feet above ground level [agl]). The flight crew used 26 foot conical canopy parachutes with an 8 knot forward speed capability, and they were jumping into wind conditions of 30 to 35 knots.

Radar data indicated that after the crew's departure, it ascended briefly, then descended until impacting the ground approximately 20 minutes later. During the impact sequence, 11 propane bottles, 2 nitrogen tanks, and miscellaneous other equipment separated from the balloon. The ground crew estimated approximately 3,000 pounds of weight was lost.

The PIC observed, and radar data indicated, that the balloon immediately ascended, and at 1010 leveled off at approximately 35,000 feet msl. The unmanned balloon drifted eastward reaching ground speeds of 100 knots. The U.S. Air Force, the North American Air Defense Command, and the FAA Air Traffic Control Centers tracked the balloon as it traveled across New Mexico and Texas. Approximately 7 hours and an estimated 375 nautical miles (nm) later, the balloon touched down near Gainesville, Texas. The balloon impacted the ground 5 times, each time losing tanks or equipment, and subsequently rising again. On the 6th touch down, the balloon contacted transmission wires and a fire ensued which destroyed the gondola. The envelope separated from the burning gondola, became airborne, and came to rest approximately 5 nm away.

The balloon was airborne for a total of 10 hours and 22 minutes. The crew was onboard for approximately 3 hours, 4 minutes.

Personnel information

The PIC received his fixed wing aeronautical training in the U.S. Air Force. He was a commercial certificated balloon pilot, and he had accumulated approximately 85 hours of lighter-than-air flight experience of which less than 5 hours was in gas balloons. The SIC had approximately 10 years of flight experience in balloons, and was a commercially certificated pilot. He had approximately 700 hours of lighter-than-air flight experience, of which approximately 175 hours were in gas balloons.

Aircraft information

The balloon (envelope with gondola) received a Special Airworthiness Certificate in the United States in the category of Experimental-Exhibition (See attached excerpts from FAA Orders 8130.2C and 8130.27). It had a maximum gross weight of 11,980 pounds. The envelope was a hybrid gas (helium) and hot air envelope, which was referred to as a "Roziere" system. Helium, being lighter than air, provided the main lifting force by displacing the heavier ambient air surrounding it.

The balloon envelope was one of 26 manufactured by Cameron Balloons, Ltd., in Bristol, England. The manufacturer had recommended a maximum rate of climb for the balloon of 1,000 fpm. The upper portion (main gas cell) of the envelope was approximately 420,000 cubic feet in size. The b