Lindstrand Balloons 180A N75213
20 August 2011 · Lewiston, Maine, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 20 August 2011 at about 22:00 local time, a Lindstrand Balloons 180A registered N75213 was involved in an accident near Lewiston, Maine, United States. 9 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 3 had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lewiston, Maine, United States
- Coordinates
- 44.0939, -70.2222
- Aircraft
- Lindstrand Balloons 180A
- Registration
- N75213
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Lewiston → Lewiston
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA11LA469
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Probable cause
The separation of the inflation tank gas line due to an improperly positioned valve o-ring. Contributing to the accident was the use of an unapproved inflation tank.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A witness, who boarded the balloon for a sightseeing flight, reported that the pilot bent over and contacted a gas line with his arm. The line connection separated at the inflation tank, and gas sprayed upward and ignited. The pilot received second-degree burns on his hands and arms. Three passengers and one ground crewmember received minor injuries. A postaccident examination revealed that a rubber o-ring on the inflation tank valve was partially exposed and out of its normal position. The examination revealed that there was no approval documentation for the installation of the inflation tank.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Lindstrand Balloons 180 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 May 2004 | Lindstrand Balloons 180A | Ridgeway, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul 2011 | Cessna U206G | Matinicus Island, Maine, United States | Penobscot Island Air | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Oct 2011 | Cessna 207A | Matinicus Island, Maine, United States | Waters Aero-Marine, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 20 Jul 2011 | Sky A-1C-180 | Fryeburg, Maine, United States | Laurence D. Ketner | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 2011 | Diamond DA-40 | Allagash, Maine, United States | Aviation Investments, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Aug 2011 | Fantasy Air Sro ALLEGRO 2000 | Stonington, Maine, United States | Walter Erik A | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jul 2011 | De Havilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A | Rockland, Maine, United States | Owls Head Transportation Museum | No injuries | - |