NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 3, 2018, about 0815 mountain daylight time, a Cameron Balloons US A-250 balloon, N2025J, landed in an open field about 12 miles east of Hartsel, Colorado. The commercial rated pilot, commercial rated co-pilot, and seven passengers were not injured; one passenger sustained serious injuries and one passenger was fatally injured. The balloon was not damaged. The balloon was registered to Colorado Rocky Ballooning LLC, Dillon, Colorado, and operated by Colorado Hot Air Balloon Rides under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a revenue sightseeing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight departed at 0717.

The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the balloon departed from a field about 6 miles northwest of the accident site. At the end of the sightseeing flight the pilot landed the balloon in a flat field; during the landing the basket bounced several times and tipped over (figure 1).

When the basket tipped over, two female passengers fell out; one landed on top of the other and both sustained injuries. The first injured passenger, age 65, sustained a broken wrist and experienced shoulder pain, while the other injured passenger, age 73, was administered CPR by two of the other passengers, then was flown to a local hospital.

Several of the other passengers onboard the balloon stated after the accident that pilots provided an initial flight briefing as well as a briefing before landing, which included information about how they should situate themselves in the basket for a safe landing. The pilots instructed them to crouch down with their knees bent, hold onto two straps on the basket, face toward the direction of travel, and brace against the side wall since the landing would be rougher than they might expect. The passengers reportedly understood that the basket was expected to tip over after landing.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The operator did not report that any of the passengers had a medical condition or physical limitation that would require special precaution or prevent them from riding in the balloon. None of the passengers reported any disqualifying conditions to the operator prior to the flight.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The Cameron Balloons US A-250 envelope has an actual volume and effective lift of 250,000 cubic ft, with a maximum gross weight of 5,000 lbs. The balloon was fitted with an Aerostar Classic XII Basket (RB12-119) and equipped with three burners and three 23.5 gallon liquid propane tanks. The basket is designed to hold 12 passengers and one pilot.

The balloon was equipped with a Flytec 3040 balloon flight instrument. The compact device provides altimeter and variometer (indicates rate of climb/descent) readings, wind speed, ambient temperature, remote envelope temperature sensing, envelope temperature alarms, descent alarm, and a real-time clock and stop watch.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The pilot's both reported that the wind speed during landing was 7 to 8 mph which is considered moderate wind for this type of operation.

The passengers did not mention any adverse wind conditions in their statements.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

After the accident the pilot-in-command (PIC) stated that with the moderate wind they expected the basket to tip over after landing, which was typical for a moderate wind landing. After initial contact the basket dragged on the ground about 40 to 50 ft, then came to rest. The co-pilot then "pulled the top out" to release the hot air and deflate the envelope. The PIC stated that the basket had come to a complete stop, and during the deflation the basket tipped over on its side, came down hard, and the two passengers in the upper left compartment (figure 2) of the basket fell out.

The responding FAA inspector did not report any malfunctions or anomalies with the balloon or it's components.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The El Paso Country Coroner, Colorado Springs, Colorado, performed an autopsy on the passenger and determined that the cause of death was blunt force neck trauma.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Company Operations Manual

The company operations manual stated in part, "Pre-Flight/Pre-Boarding – The chief pilot is to perform a passenger briefing to all passengers prior to boarding the aircraft. This briefing must include all possible landing scenarios including high wind tip over landings, it must explain in detail where to hold on and how to stand during landing and stress that it is essential to their safety that they obey their pilot in commands instructions. Pre-Flight/Post-Boarding - The PIC must once again go over the landing instructions once the passengers have boarded to physically show them where to hold on and how to stand in their particular basket. Prior to Landing - The PIC must evaluate the expected nature of the landing and inform the passengers accordingly. If it is expected to be anything but a feather landing the PIC must show a sense of urgency to get the passengers attention. Once again, show them where to hold on with both hands, how to stand, repeat that they must keep arms and hands in the basket, make sure that they are watching the direction of travel so they know when to brace on contact and repeat again to keep holding on even after the landing until instructed to let go by the PIC and stay in the basket. Upon Landing - The PIC must make sure that the passengers continue to hold on with both hands and to stay in the basket until instructed to disembark. Once safely out of the basket the passengers must be informed to move to the back side of the basket on the upwind side."

The operator stated that he used the Cameron Balloons A-250 flight manual for flight operations. The FAA inspector confirmed that the Cameron flight manual should be used since the envelope is the type certificated portion of the aircraft.

Cameron Balloons A-250 Flight Manual

According to the Cameron flight manual, "passengers are to be briefed on appropriate clothing and footwear to wear to launch site. Passenger health confirmed suitable for balloon flight (ask each passenger about heart condition, possible altitude limitations (for heart or lung problems), general strength, pregnancy, or any physical or medical condition that would make flight inadvisable or require special precautions or equipment). The manual also states in part, "passengers should be briefed to hold on with both hands, knees slightly bent to absorb shock on impact, and to stay down in the basket to prevent being thrown out during the landing. If a stand-up landing is anticipated, the passengers need not brace their bodies against the wall of the basket or against each other. If it will be a high wind landing or a during a rapid vertical descent and it Is expected that the basket may rebound or tip over or drag on a corner, the passengers should be briefed to face away from the direction of flight, hold on to an interior basket handle or tank collar in front in them, and crouch slightly. This position is most likely to prevent them from being thrown from the basket on impact or while dragging."

Aerostar Basket Flight Manual

The Aerostar flight manual stated, "helmets are required for all occupants on board and must be worn during emergency procedures as specified in Section 3 of this manual as well as any other time it is deemed necessary by the pilot-in-command. It is recommended that the minimum guidelines be:

1. Optional for take-offs and landings in winds less than 10 mph (16 KPH),

2. Utilized for all take-offs and landings in winds of 10 mph (1 6 KPH) or greater

3. Utilized for low altitude flight, including take-offs and landings, when wind conditions are gusty or unstable.

It is strongly recommended that helmets be worn for the above conditions as a minimum. The final determination of such utilization remains with the pilot-in-command and he or she must apply these guidelines based on experience and each individual situation as it arises. Passengers must be briefed on their proper use prior to flight. The type of helmet to be utilized is at the option of the pilot, but a helmet marketed by its manufacturer as intended for use with motorcycles, bicycles, mountain climbing or ice hockey is strongly recommended."

The Aerostar flight manual also stated in part, "CAUTION Passengers should be briefed to exact the possibility of "rebound" and a second landing in windy conditions. NOTE Wind conditions will dictate whether or not the panel must be opened for rapid deflation. Moderate to strong wind will require immediate deflation. Continuous tension on actuation line is required for rapid deflation.

Emergency/Hard Landing or High Wind Landing

Descent:

1. Brief passengers to:

a. Put on protective helmets immediately.

b. Face direction of travel.

c. Hold on to basket aluminum superstructure.

CAUTION Do not hold on to suspension cables, fuel lines or fittings. Hand injuries or fuel system damage may result.

d. Bend knees slightly, muscles tense.

e. Observe landing progression.

f. Remain in basket until instructed otherwise.

Landing:

3. Stay in the basket until it comes to rest or a safe exit can be made by all passengers simultaneously."