Head Balloons AX9-118 N45289
12 March 1994 · Sedona, Arizona, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 12 March 1994 at about 14:30 local time, a Head Balloons AX9-118 registered N45289, operated by Northern Light Balloon Expedit, was involved in an accident near Sedona, Arizona, United States. 5 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Sedona, Arizona, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Head Balloons AX9-118
- Registration
- N45289
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Northern Light Balloon Expedit
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94LA162
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Probable cause
the failure of the pilot lights and burners to relight in flight once extinguished due to the installation of an incorrect gas pressure regulator.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot was descending to about 400 feet agl to give the passengers a better view of the surroundings and the burner pilot light went out. The pilot said he tried unsuccessfully to relight it up until ground impact. The balloon consisted of a Head AX9-118 envelope attached to a Balloon Works 5.5 basket, which included a Balloon Works Mirage F-1 burner. The installed propane gas regulator was found to be a Marshall Brass Company model 300. The envelope and basket, produced by different manufacturers, were combined together in accordance with STC SL1748. The burner tested to factory specification. The regulator was the incorrect part for the burner. Functional testing of the regulator found that it flowed at 8 psi. The correct regulator is a Marshall Brass model 301 which has a specified pressure range of 18 to 25 psi. According to Balloon Works, low regulator pressure might make reigniting the pilot lights and burners difficult once snuffed out in flight.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Head Balloons AX9 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jul 2008 | Head Balloons AX9-118 | Cook, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Sep 2010 | Head Balloons AX9 118 | Hanover, New Hampshire, United States | Daoust Darrek N | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 2010 | Head Balloons AX9 118 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Sep 1994 | Cessna 210L | Payson, Arizona, United States | Dairy Queen of S. Arizona, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1994 | James B Edwards COZY | Skull Valley, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Benson, Arizona, United States | Same AS Registered Owner | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1994 | Bell 206-B3 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | U.s. Forest Service | Unknown | - |
| 4 Jan 1994 | Bell 206B | Coolidge Dam, Arizona, United States | Southwest Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Nov 1994 | Cessna 172K | Springerville, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |