# NTSB MIA85FA143: Balloon Works Firefly 7B, N36938, Orlando, FL, April 7, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 7, 1985, 08:05 local (13:05 UTC)
- Place: Orlando, FL
- Coordinates: 28.45034, -81.470649 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4503&lon=-81.4706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31238
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85FA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31238/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85FA143

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown
  - fuel system,line fitting - failure,total (cause)
- Fire/explosion, landing - flare/touchdown
  - fuel system,line fitting - failure,total (cause)
  - balloon equipment,burner system - exploded (cause)

## Analysis

THE BALLOON WAS DESTROYED BY AN EXPLOSION AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE DURING TOUCHDOWN IN AN OPEN FLD. THE PLT AND WITNESSES STATED THE GONDOLA TOUCHED DOWN WITH A 'JOLT' AND TILTED IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY A HISSING NOISE AND A CLOUD OF PROPANE GAS VAPOR WAS SEEN RISING TOWARD THE PILOT LIGHT OF THE BURNER LOCATED NEAR THE OCCUPANT'S HEADS. THE PLT AND ONE PASSENGER ESCAPED FROM THE GONDOLA AS AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED. THE BALLOON THEN ASCENDED APRX 200 FT WITH THE 2ND PASSENGER STILL IN THE GONDOLA. A 2ND EXPLOSION WAS HEARD AT WHICH TIME THE GONDOLA SEPARATED FROM THE ENVELOPE AND FELL TO THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE METAL FITTING CONNECTING THE #1 PROPANE TANK TO THE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE HAD FAILED. METALLURGICAL EXAM DISCLOSED THE FRACTURE WAS DUE TO OVERSTRESS WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36938](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36938-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N F7B-110, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7B
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7-b) (registry code 10501A9) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F7B-110
- Airframe hours: 70
- Engines: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Balloons By Terry
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; flight hours: 160 total, 15 in this make and model, 148 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCO, 9 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 19850407051619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850407051619A), Apr 7, 1985: Balwks FIREFLY7B, Orlando, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Jolt on landing tilted gondola. Popping and hissing noise heard. Fireball and explosion from failed fuel fitting.

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.