# NTSB WPR19LA228: Head AX9-118, N2027S, Galt, CA, August 9, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 9, 2019, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Galt, CA - Coordinates: 38.258056, -121.375 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2581&lon=-121.3750&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Other: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 100090 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100090/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100090 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA228 ## Probable cause A loss of control following an adverse wind encounter. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Head Balloons AX9-118, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=4280102), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX9-118, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=4280102), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Other: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400) (defining event); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX9-118, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=4280102), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX9-118, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=4280102), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX9-118, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=4280102), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was giving rides during a balloon festival while the balloon remained tethered to three cars. The wind increased, and the pilot decided to stop performing flights. As he was in the process of deflating the envelope, a wind gust caused the balloon to ascend rapidly. The ground crew let go of the ropes, and the balloon ascended to the end of the tethers. One of the eye bolt attachments from the basket to the rope broke, allowing the rope to come loose, followed by the failure of a second eye bolt attachment, which allowed the second rope to come loose. At that point, the ground crew was attempting to hold the third rope when the pilot told them to cut it loose. The pilot applied the burner to heat the envelope and rise above powerlines; however, as the crew cut the remaining rope, the basket twisted, which closed the throat of the envelope. The balloon continued toward a nearby open field, where the pilot chose to land. The pilot stated that, with the envelope only partially inflated, the descent was fast and the balloon landed hard. He turned off the burners and the balloon envelope deflated onto its side. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 2019, at 0845 Pacific daylight time, a Head AX9-118 hot air balloon, N2027S, was involved in an accident near Galt, California. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The balloon was operated by Skydancer Balloon Company as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 sightseeing flight. The pilot reported that he was part of a group of tethered balloons that was providing early morning rides to participants of the Galt Balloon Festival. His balloon was tethered at three points to three vehicles. Around 0830, he and two other tethered balloonists noted that the wind was starting to pick up and they decided to stop the flights. The other balloonists were able to deflate their balloons, and he was in the process of deflating when the balloon was picked up by a vertical wind, which caused it to ascend rapidly. The ground crew let go of the ropes, and the balloon ascended to the end of the tethers. One of the eye bolt attachments from the basket to the rope broke, allowing the rope to come loose, followed by the failure of a second eye bolt attachment, which allowed a second rope to come loose. At that point, the ground crew was attempting to hold the third rope when the pilot told them to cut it loose. The pilot applied the burner to heat the envelope and rise above powerlines; however, as the crew cut the remaining rope, the basket twisted, which closed the throat of the envelope. The balloon continued toward a nearby open field, where the pilot chose to land. The pilot stated that, with the envelope only partially inflated, the descent was fast and the balloon landed hard. He turned off the burners and the balloon envelope deflated onto its side. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2027S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2027S), registered now, S/N 430, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Head AX9-118 (No Series) - Registry model: [Head Balloons AX9-118](https://openairdocs.org/model/head-balloons-ax9-118) (registry code 4280102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 430 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 288.8 - Engines: NA none - Damage: Minor damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 2018 - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; commercial; last flight review April 21, 2019; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,047 total, 290 in this make and model, 1,047 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KSAC, 16 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 16, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100090. 10.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13870747&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13870478&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA228%20BSmith%20RoC_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13870379&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf 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.