# NTSB SEA86IA240: Cameron D-50, Seattle, WA, September 7, 1986

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: September 7, 1986, 15:46 local (22:46 UTC)
- Place: Seattle, WA
- Coordinates: 47.730186, -122.34008 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7302&lon=-122.3401&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40313
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA86IA240
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40313/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86IA240

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff
  - vertical takeoff - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - throttle/power lever,linkage - movement restricted (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - electrical tower(marked)

## Analysis

THE ACFT PLT AND GND CREW WERE CONDUCTING GND HANDLING AND MOORING PROCEDURES. THE PLAN WAS TO ASCEND ABOUT 10 FT AGL OVER THE FLD. THE FLD WAS IN A DEPRESSION SURROUNDED BY TALL TREES AND SE OF A 400 FT AGL RADIO TWR. DURING LIFT OFF THE GND CREW HELD THE ACFT DOWN WHILE THE PLT HEATED THE BAG. THE 'BURNS' AND 'HOLD DOWN' WAS LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED AND AT LAUNCH THE ACFT ROSE HIGHER THAN PLANNED. THE ALT WAS SUCH THAT THE ACFT ROSE ABOVE THE TREES AND STARTED BEING AFFECTED BY THE 5-7 KT WIND FROM THE SSE. THE PLT MANEUVERED THE ACFT N OF THE FLD AND NNW OF THE TWR. AFTER ASSURING THE ACFT WAS CONTROLLABLE WITH THE ENG AND BURNERS AN APCH WAS INITIATED BACK TO THE FLD. DURING THE APCH THE DESCENT WAS NOT AS ANTICIPATED AND THE ENG WAS SET TO IDLE. DURING THIS TIME THE WIND SHIFTED, PLACING THE ACFT UPWIND OF THE TWR. THE APCH WAS ABANDONED IN FAVOR OF MANEUVERING AWAY FROM THE TWR. THE ENG FAILED TO RESPOND AND A CLIMB OVER THE TWR WAS INITIATED. THE ACFTS NOSE GND LINE CAUGHT IN THE TWR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: GBMCT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CAMERON D-50
- Category: Blimp
- Serial number: 1024
- Airframe hours: 6
- Engines: CUYUNA 430 30 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert L. Powers, doing business as Crista Broadcasting, Corp.
- Registered owner: Cameron Balloon, Ltd.
- Last inspection: Annual, August 9, 1986, 6 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport, foreign, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: unknown, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 7,557 total, 6 in this make and model, 7,265 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BFT, 5 nm away

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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