Balloon Works AX-8 N32877

Summary

On 6 February 1999 at about 22:00 local time, a Balloon Works AX-8 registered N32877 was involved in an accident near Beech Island, South Carolina, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 February 1999 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Beech Island, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

33.5106, -81.9491

Aircraft

Balloon Works AX-8

Registration

N32877

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Augusta → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL99LA047

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to follow the balloon checklist that resulted in a ground fire that destroyed the balloon envelope.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After landing, the pilot turned off the pilot light valves on the tanks but not on the burners. The pilot then started deflating the balloon and laid the basket over on its side. While exiting the basket, the pilot bumped the main valve. The flames from the burner ignited the balloon envelope, and started a ground fire. The Balloon Works Firefly Series Flight Manual states that, 'Just prior to touchdown: (1) Make sure that the Trigger Valve (and/or Fire 2 Valve if in use) is firmly closed, (2) Close the Pilot Light Safety Shut Off. Action (2) is a precaution against possibility that the pilot lights or accidental burning might damage the envelope or ignite anything at the landing site.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.