# NTSB LAX04CA003: Balloon Works Firefly II, N7021U, Phoenix, AZ, September 28, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 28, 2003, 08:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.688331, -112.082496 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6883&lon=-112.0825&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 10 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58115 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58115/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA003 ## Probable cause the pilot's diverted attention that resulted in the inadequate handling of the burner during ground operations. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, standing - aircraft handling - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause) - balloon equipment,envelope - burned ## Analysis The balloon sustained fire damage to the envelope while it was on the ground. One of the passengers became ill during the flight. The pilot landed the balloon in a field, and he waited for the ground crew to arrive. While he was waiting, he applied heat to the balloon to keep it standing. Each time that he applied burner, he would look to ensure that it was not contacting the envelope. Just as the ground crew arrived, he glanced at the balloon and began another burn. As he was speaking with the crew, the flame made contact with the envelope. The crew evacuated the passengers from the balloon as portions of the burning fabric fell from it. Several panels were directly burned; melting fabric damaged others. The pilot noted no mechanical problems with the balloon. ## Factual narrative On September 28, 2003, about 0820 mountain standard time, a Balloon Works Firefly II, N7021U, sustained fire damage to the envelope while it was positioned on the ground near Phoenix, Arizona. Get Carried Away Hot Air Balloon Company was operating the balloon under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and nine passengers were not injured; two passengers sustained minor injuries. The balloon sustained substantial damage. The flight departed an area north of Phoenix about 0710 for the local area sightseeing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In a written statement, the pilot reported that one of the passengers became ill during the flight. After landing the balloon in a field, the pilot waited for the ground crew to arrive. While he was waiting, he applied heat to the balloon to keep it standing. Each time he applied the burner, he would look to ensure that it was not contacting the envelope. Just as the ground crew arrived, the pilot glanced at the balloon and began another burn. As he was speaking with the crew, the flame made contact with the envelope. The crew evacuated the passengers from the balloon as portions of the burning fabric fell. Several panels were directly burned; others were damaged by the melting fabric. The pilot noted that there were no mechanical problems with the balloon. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7021U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7021U-2014-06-26), registration cancelled 2014-06-26, S/N F11-006, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS INC FIREFLY II - Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 11](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-11) (registry code 1050125) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: F11-006 - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Get Carried Away Hot Air Balloon Company, doing business as Get Carried Away Hot Air Balloon Co. - Registered owner: Hot Air Expedition - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Phoenix, AZ - Destination: Phoenix, AZ - Airport: KDVT, Phoenix Deer Valley ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; commercial; flight hours: 730 total, 100 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20030928035319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030928035319A), Sep 28, 2003: Balwks FIREFLY11, Cave Creek, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing phase, pilot engaged burner and balloon envelope caught fire. The balloon sustained substantial damage and some of the passengers received… ## Other investigations on N7021U (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX99FA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99FA273), Aug 19, 1999: Balloon Works Firefly 11 (N7021U), Cave Creek, AZ, minor damage. Probable cause: An unforecast encounter with a low level microburst that resulted in a distortion of the balloon envelope, an excessive outflow of hot air (loss of lift), creating an excessive rate of descent that… 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.