ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 381440
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| Date: | Wednesday 13 July 1983 |
| Time: | 08:30 LT |
| Type: |  Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24 |
| Owner/operator: | Balloon Ascentions Unlimited |
| Registration: | N1509W |
| MSN: | 5012 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 110 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Hamel, MN -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Excelsior, MN |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
DURING FLT, THE PLT USED FUEL FROM 2 OF 4 PROPANE TANKS, THEN SWITCHED TO THE 2ND 2 TANKS & STARTED A DESCENT. AT APRX 300 FT AGL, HE TRIED TO START THE BURNER, BUT COULD NOT GET A LIGHT BECAUSE THE PILOT LIGHT WAS OUT. HE ATTEMPTED TO MANUALLY RELIGHT THE BURNER WITH A FLINT SPARKER, BUT THE BURNER WOULD NOT RELIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE BALLOON STRUCK A METAL FENCE, BOUNCED & HIT A TRACTOR. FIVE OF THE PASSENGERS FELL OUT. THE PLT & ONE OTHER PASSENGER WERE CARRIED ANOTHER 200 YARDS INTO A SWAMPY AREA. AN EXAM OF THE FUEL SYS SHOWED THAT THE PILOT LIGHT VALVE WAS A TOGGLE TYPE SWITCH NEAR THE 'FIRE 2' VALVE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE COULD HAVE INADVERTENTLY STRUCK & SHUT OFF THE PILOT LIGHT VALVE AS HE ROTATED THE 'FIRE 2' VALVE. WHEN CHECKED, THE PILOT LIGHT & BURNER OPERATED NORMALLY. THE 'FIRE 2' WOULD ONLY LIGHT WITH THE FLINT SPARKER WHEN THE VALVE WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY OPENED.
Probable Cause:
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB CHI83LA310
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 02-Apr-2024 03:26 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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