Balloon Works AX8-24 N7127J

Summary

On 14 February 1989 at about 17:00 local time, a Balloon Works AX8-24 registered N7127J was involved in an accident near Telluride, Colorado, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 February 1989 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Telluride, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

37.9391, -107.8998

Aircraft

Balloon Works AX8-24

Registration

N7127J

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN89LA077

Nobody was injured.

ICE FORMING IN THE FUEL TANK SHUT OFF VALVE, AND THE BURNER BLAST VALVE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING LANDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE COMMERCIAL PLT AND TWO FRIENDS WERE FLYING HIS BALLOON IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND, THE PLT OPENED THE BURNER VALVE TO FLARE. THE VALVE STUCK OPEN AND THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO SHUT OFF FUEL AT THE PROPANE BOTTLE. THAT VALVE STUCK OPEN ALSO, AND THE BALLOON STARTED TO RISE. THE PLT REDUCED THE HEAT ENTERING THE ENVELOPE BY PULLING THE BURNER OUT OF THE THROAT AND POINTING IT OVERBOARD. THIS BALLOON WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN EMERGENCY 'BACK UP' BURNER SYSTEM. BY USING THE BACK UP BURNER, THE PLT MANEUVERED AND LANDED IN A WOODED AREA. THE PLT SAID THAT AFTER LANDING, HE WAS ABLE TO WORK THE STUCK VALVES UNTIL THEY CLOSED AND THE FUEL FLOW CEASED. A POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT CONDITIONS EXISTED CONDUCIVE TO ICE FORMING IN BOTH VALVES AND PREVENTING NORMAL OPERATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.