With years of fixed wing experience and one year as a private Hot Air Balloon pilot, I felt confident and comfortable with my knowledge and with the equipment I fly.
It began as a routine morning flight in the countryside. The launch site was an old gravel pit in Culver, Indiana. Earlier, it was hoped that winds from the West would provide a nice view of nearby Lake Maxinkuckee for my two passengers.
Instead, surface winds were less than three knots from the East with 18 knots reported at 3,000 feet. The flight would be taking us away from the lake over flat pastures and occasional country roads. Obstacles were never a concern as the closest was a road with powerlines on each side about a mile away. It was a beautiful autumn morning with visibility at seven miles. Excitement filled the area as the gentle giant began to take shape.
With two passengers on board, we made a normal climbout to 400 feet AGL. I decided to utilize my turning vent, as I prefer to fly with the scoop downwind. After I had rotated 140 degrees, I began to burn immediately to compensate for lost heat, only to realize the pilot light had gone out and raw propane was rising from the burner. Turning up the vapor adjustment at the tank and five attempts at burner relight using the built-in piezo electric igniter proved fruitless.
In a fast descent now out of 300 feet AGL, I noticed, out of the corner of my eye, a dirt road with powerlines! My only recourse was to shut off fuel at the tanks and brace for I-M- P-A-C-T!!! The scoop contacted the 7,000 volt line and a small spark occurred.
The balloon settled gently on a narrow dirt road between a 7,000 volt and a 38,000 volt line. The balloon rested upright against the smaller line but never contacted the larger one. With no other sparks or fire, everyone remained on board as the balloon deflated over the 7,000 volt line. With all equipment turned off, the occupants jumped free of the basket. The burner remained un-vented, as I was careful not to risk mixing raw propane with an unseen spark.
During the wait for utility crews (it was Sunday morning!), I noticed the calmness of my passengers. It all happened so suddenly that only when we looked back did we realize how bad things could have been.
Utility crews arrived shortly and shut off power for retrieval of the envelope. It looked a lot worse than it was. No fires, no injuries, no damage!!! (I thanked the good Lord!!!) The utility crew estimated a nearby fuse had blown upon contact. The line was deactivated after initial impact.
Later that day, I began to assess what could have happened. The flight only lasted five minutes and I never had time for fear. The pilot light had been adjusted for normal conditions. As the balloon ascended into stronger wind, the pilot light was snuffed out by that wind flowing through the basket. Re-light using the burner's igniter was not possible in five attempts as sparks were kept from the pilot light. Time had run out before the striker in my pocket could be deployed.
Upon examining and testing the burner later that day, it never failed. The burner's igniter
and striker worked properly time after time. Since that experience last year, I've enjoyed
many flights, all without burner failure. However, I'm not the same Pilot I once was. Not
that I wasn't safe. I was! I realize I was given another chance at life, and I wanted to share
what was learned.
I feel important lessons were learned and have the following pointers to share:
1. Altitude is everything. (With another 10 seconds, the striker could have averted
disaster.)
2. Keep the pilot light turned up. Can you hear it?
3. When "level and low" do not utilize turning vent. (If you must, heat before using
it.)
4 Be sure to test the igniter and striker on the burner prior to each launch.
5. Skip the burner igniter during an emergency. Use your striker directly on the propane
blast for immediate heat.
Remember, it can happen to you!
Fly Safe--Live Long!
