Plano, TX, USA
N4003P
Cameron Balloons US N-77
According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who traveled to the scene, the pilot was participating in a hot-air balloon competition. The pilot called her ground crew while en route and reported that all three propane tanks were empty. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a parking lot and bounced three times before the balloon came to rest. She stated that the balloon's propane tanks had been filled the night prior to the accident flight and contained 30 gallons of fuel. The burner and fuel system consisted of three fuel tanks designated "master," "slave one," and "slave two." She advised that she flew on slave one until it was exhausted. She verified that the master tank contained fuel, then flew on slave two until it contained approximately 15 percent fuel remaining. Upon switching back to the master tank she noted that for an unknown reason, it too now contained approximately 15 per cent fuel remaining. She began looking for a suitable place for a forced landing. The basket sustained minor damage and the balloon envelope was not damaged. The pilot sustained a broken leg. An examination of the balloon systems revealed no anomalies.
On September 21, 2008, approximately 0900 central daylight time, a Cameron Balloons US N-77, N4003P, piloted by a private pilot, sustained minor damaged during a forced landing in Plano, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot sustained serious injuries and her passenger was not injured. The local flight departed Plano East Senior High School approximately 0800 and was en route to Clark Stadium. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who traveled to the scene, the pilot was participating in a hot-air balloon competition. The pilot called her ground crew while en route and reported that all three propane tanks were empty. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a parking lot and bounced three times before the balloon came to rest. The basket sustained minor damage and the balloon envelope was not damaged. The pilot sustained a broken leg. During a telephone interview with the pilot on October 24th, she stated that the balloon's propane tanks had been filled the night prior to the accident flight and contained 30 gallons of fuel. The burner and fuel system consisted of three fuel tanks designated "master", "slave one", and "slave two." She advised that she flew on slave one until it was exhausted. She verified that the master tank contained fuel, then flew on slave two until it contained approximately 15 percent fuel remaining. Upon switching back to the master tank she noted that for an unknown reason, it too now contained approximately 15 per cent fuel remaining. She began looking for a suitable place for a forced landing. An examination of the fuel system revealed no anomalies. A porosity test on the balloon envelope was not performed. Multiple attempts to obtain a National Transportation Safety Board form 6120.1 with additional accident details from the pilot were unsuccessful. Several attempts to obtain maintenance records to verify Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness directive compliance pertaining to fuel system and burner modifications from the pilot were also unsuccessful.
The pilot's improper fuel management, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent hard landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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