# NTSB NYC85LA024: Raven S-66A, N4272Y, Little Compton, RI, September 30, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 30, 1984, 08:10 local (12:10 UTC)
- Place: Little Compton, RI
- Location: 41.5101° N, 71.1712° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Little Compton, RI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5101&lon=-71.1712&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35645
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35645/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA024

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts
  - recovery from bounced landing - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - balloon equipment,basket - failure,partial

## Analysis

PLT BRUSHED BASKET AGAINST TREE TOPS AND BUSHES TO SLOW THE BALLOONS FORWARD SPEED. PLT PULLED DEFLATION PORT APRX 10 FT AGL OVER A MOWN HAY FIELD WITH AN 8-10 MPH HORIZONTAL, 100 FPM VERTICAL SPEED. BASKET BOUNCED AND GUST OF WIND CAUGHT DEFLATING ENVELOPE TIPPING THE BASKET CAUSING THE EDGE OF THE BASKET TO CONTACT THE GROUND FIRST. THE FLOOR OF THE BASKET WAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE SIDE WALLS OF THE BASKET. DURING THE FOLLOWING DRAG, SEVERAL PASSENGERS SLIPPED OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE BASKET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4272Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4272Y-2018-01-04), registration cancelled 2018-01-04, S/N S66A-140, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S-66A
- Registry model: [Raven Industries S-66A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-industries-s-66a) (registry code 7480612) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: S66A-140
- Airframe hours: 205
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Balloon Adventures
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 11, 1984, 80 hours before
- Departed: WESTPORT, MA
- Destination: LITTLE COMPTON, RI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; commercial; medical: unknown; seat: center; flight hours: 670 total, 205 in this make and model, 205 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## 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 19840930061159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840930061159A), Sep 30, 1984: Raven S66A, Little Compton, RI, Substantial damage. Gust of wind caused basket to hit ground at an angle. Floor of basket became detached from side of basket.

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.

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