Cameron O-105 N364CB

Summary

On 3 March 1990 at about 16:10 local time, a Cameron O-105 registered N364CB was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona, United States. 4 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 March 1990 at 16:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.4507, -111.6397

Aircraft

Cameron O-105

Registration

N364CB

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX90LA109

1 person died.

IMPROPER MODIFICATION OF THE BALLOON'S FUEL/HEATER SYSTEM BY THE OWNER/OPERATOR AND FAILURE OF THE FUEL LINE CONNECTION, WHICH RESULTED IN A FUEL SYSTEM LEAK AND GONDOLA (BASKET) FIRE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER 30 MIN OF FLT, THE PLT LNDD THE BALLOON IN A DESERT AREA. THE CHASE CREW WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE AREA, SO THE PLT ELECTED TO FLY THE BALLOON & PSGRS TO AN ACCESSIBLE AREA. MOMENTS AFTER LIFT-OFF, A FUEL LINE CONNECTION FAILED & A FIRE ERUPTED. THE PILOT TOLD THE PSGRS TO JUMP; 1 PSGR JUMPED (OR FELL) FROM A RELATIVELY HIGH ALTITUDE & WAS FATALLY INJURED. AN EXAM OF THE BALLOON REMAINS REVEALED THE FUEL SYS WAS MODIFIED TO A CONFIGURATION THAT WAS NOT APPROVED BY EITHER THE FAA OR THE MANUFACTURER. ONLY TWO FUEL TANKS WERE ORIGINALLY APPROVED FOR THIS BALLOON; FOUR FUEL TANKS WERE INSTALLED & TWO OTHERS WERE LOOSE IN THE BASKET. THE FUEL MANIFOLDS FOR THE INSTALLED TANKS WERE OF AN UNKNOWN DESIGN & ORIGIN WITH HOSES & FITTINGS THAT DID NOT MEET FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.