# NTSB LAX04CA221: American Blimp A-1-50, N154ZP, North Las Vegas, NV, May 22, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 22, 2004, 09:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: North Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.212501, -115.196113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2125&lon=-115.1961&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59304 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59304/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA221 ## Probable cause the ground crew's inability to maintain control of the airship and the pilot's inability to obtain a sufficient rate of climb. Contributing to the accident was unfavorable winds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, ground personnel (cause) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - climb - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During an attempted takeoff the airship collided with a one-story building. The crew released the airship from the mooring mast to conduct its weigh-out and takeoff. A gust of wind caused the ship to translate to the right. The nose ropes manned by the ground crew were ineffective in controlling the movement. The pilot decided to execute a takeoff. However, being fully loaded, the airship was slow to respond despite the pilot's application of full power, full left rudder, and full up elevator control inputs. The landing gear hit the chain link airport fence, and then the airship settled on to a one-story building. The ground crew released the ballast and moved the airship back to the airfield. A second wind gust pushed the airship in to the next building over. The crew deflated the entire envelope and removed it off the building. ## Factual narrative On May 22, 2004, at 0915 Pacific daylight time, an American Blimp Corporation A-1-50 airship, N1542P, collided with a building during takeoff at the North Las Vegas Airport, North Las Vegas, Nevada. Lightship America Corporation was operating the airship under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport pilot and single crewmember were not injured, and the airship was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the positioning flight to Long Beach, California. The pilot told the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the airship was fully loaded with fuel and ballast. There were two nose ropes manned with three people each. The crew released the airship from the mooring mast to conduct its weigh-out and takeoff. A gust of wind or thermal caused the ship to translate to the right. The manned nose ropes were ineffective in controlling the movement. The pilot decided to execute a takeoff. However, being fully loaded, the airship was slow to respond despite the pilot's application of full power, full left rudder, and full up elevator control inputs. The landing gear hit the barbed wire chain link airport fence, and then the airship settled on to a one-story building. The ground crew released the ballast and moved the airship back to the airfield. A second thermal or wind gust pushed the airship in to the next building over. The crew deflated the entire envelope and removed it off the building. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N154ZP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N154ZP), registered now, S/N 104, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American Blimp Corporation A-1-50 - Registry model: [American Blimp A-1-70](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-blimp-a-1-70) (registry code 3850111) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Blimp - Serial number: SN104 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B1G6 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lightship America Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KVGT, North Las Vegas, NV - Destination: KLGB, Long Beach, CA - Airport: KVGT, North Las Vegas ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 5,149 total, 100 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 6 knots - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KVGT ## 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 20040522008399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040522008399A), May 22, 2004: Amblp A150, Las Vegas, NV, Minor damage. (-23) The aircraft came off mast for take off, about the same time a strong gust of wind or dust devil hit the right side of the aircraft causing it to hit the… 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.