AAIB investigation to Cameron Z-375 balloon, G-VBFS
Wire strike on landing, near Kendal, Cumbria, 4 April 2014.
Summary:
皇冠体育app flight had been conducted in fine conditions, with good visibility. 皇冠体育app pilot began to search for a landing area and identified what appeared to be a suitable field about 2 nm away, near the town of Levens. As the balloon approached the field, its speed was about 7 kt and reducing. 皇冠体育app pilot observed electrical power lines on two sides of the field, before the intended landing site. With the passengers in their landing positions, the pilot descended over the near corner of his chosen field, beyond the power lines he had seen.
With the balloon about 3 m above the ground, the pilot saw more power lines immediately ahead, running diagonally across the balloon鈥檚 path at the height of the balloon鈥檚 鈥榮coop鈥�. He operated a control line to rapidly deflate the envelope but the power lines struck the balloon about 1 m below the top of the 鈥榮coop鈥�, breaking in the process. 皇冠体育app balloon鈥檚 flying wires and scoop were damaged but there were no injuries.
皇冠体育app pilot had checked the field for power lines during the approach but had not seen any. He observed that the cables were very thin and the supporting poles had been obscured.
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