RIO RANCHO, NM, USA
N15260
BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 7-B
THE PLT RPTD THAT SHE HAD VENTED THE BALLOON TO LAND. SHE SAID IT TAKES BOTH OF HER HANDS TO OPEN THE VENT AND HOLD IT OPEN. 'WHEN THE BALLOON HIT THE GROUND THE BURNER WENT ON BY ITSELF, WIDE OPEN. THE ENVELOPE WAS SWINGING FROM THE CONTACT OF THE BASKET WITH THE GROUND AND WAS IN THE PATH OF THE BURNER ALMOST INSTANTLY.' THE ENVELOPE WAS DAMAGED BY THE FIRE BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSP EXAMINED THE BURNER AFTER THE ACCD. HE REPORTED THAT 'BEFORE TEARDOWN THE BURNER ASSY WAS INSTALLED ON THE GONDOLA AND OPERATIONALLY TESTED. THE VALVE WAS OPERATED NORMALLY APPROX 10 ON/OFF CYCLES. THE VALVE WAS PRESSURE TESTED AND NO LEAKS WERE NOTED. THE BLAST VALVE WAS THEN REMOVED FROM THE BURNER ASSY AND DISASSEMBLED. THE DIMENSION BETWEEN THE ACTUATING LEVER AND THE BONNET WAS APPROX .006 INSTEAD OF THE REQ MIN OF .010. THIS WAS DUE TO AN EXTRA TEFLON WASHER INSTALLED BETWEEN THE LEVER AND BONNET, HOWEVER, THE OPERATION OF THE VALVE WAS NOT AFFECTED.' NO OTHER DISCREPENCIES WERE NOTED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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