HAMEL, MN, USA
N1509W
BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 8-24
DURING FLT, THE PLT USED FUEL FROM 2 OF 4 PROPANE TANKS, THEN SWITCHED TO THE 2ND 2 TANKS & STARTED A DESCENT. AT APRX 300 FT AGL, HE TRIED TO START THE BURNER, BUT COULD NOT GET A LIGHT BECAUSE THE PILOT LIGHT WAS OUT. HE ATTEMPTED TO MANUALLY RELIGHT THE BURNER WITH A FLINT SPARKER, BUT THE BURNER WOULD NOT RELIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE BALLOON STRUCK A METAL FENCE, BOUNCED & HIT A TRACTOR. FIVE OF THE PASSENGERS FELL OUT. THE PLT & ONE OTHER PASSENGER WERE CARRIED ANOTHER 200 YARDS INTO A SWAMPY AREA. AN EXAM OF THE FUEL SYS SHOWED THAT THE PILOT LIGHT VALVE WAS A TOGGLE TYPE SWITCH NEAR THE 'FIRE 2' VALVE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE COULD HAVE INADVERTENTLY STRUCK & SHUT OFF THE PILOT LIGHT VALVE AS HE ROTATED THE 'FIRE 2' VALVE. WHEN CHECKED, THE PILOT LIGHT & BURNER OPERATED NORMALLY. THE 'FIRE 2' WOULD ONLY LIGHT WITH THE FLINT SPARKER WHEN THE VALVE WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY OPENED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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