content_image/535692.jpg
<img src='content_image/535692.jpg'>

b. The balloon envelope may sustain damage from the power lines. Consider the fact that 

Recently, two Colorado pilots were forced to jump from their balloon just before it plowed into powerlines. They were not injured, but the balloon received extenstve damage. Also recently, a balloon hit a powerline in Kansas City. It was damaged. but there were no injuries to the balloonists. And in east Texas, a balloon recently deflated across powerlines at sun• down. The pilot received minor burns and so did the balloon, but the two passengers escaped uninjured. ,Again in east Texas, a balloon was caught in the wind shear du.ring a landing in a new subdivision and became en› tangled in some wires that fortunately were not alive with electricity. There were no damages or mjuries. A balloonist and h1s• passenger were not so lucky m Wichita last month. They were killed when the" superpressurized balloon broke 1ts tether and sailed off into powerlines. When a long electncal cord hanging down from the •basket contacted 69 KV lines, the two occupants suffered severe electrical burns, became unconscious, fell out of’ the basket, and were pronounced dead by electrocution. 

Each of the.se powerline a•ccidents h.as its own set of circumstances and causes for hap- 

## Powerline Safety 

your insurance company will be very pleased to pay for envelope damage as opposed to passenger liability. 

c. There is a chance that there could be injury to the pilot or passengers. Properly prepared for a heavy landing there is really very little chance of serious injury. A balloon ripped from 150 feet cannot exceed 1500 feet per minute descent rate. Landing at 1500 feet per minute is a hard jolt that can be successfully handled without injury. 

d. Like any hard landing the fuel should be secured and the pilot light extinguished before ground contact. 

There are other possible problems such as rebound that could occur. Thinking out the problem in advance of a real power line colli› sion threat will give the pilot more confidence to make the correct decision. 

For safe flying ..... 

pening. Regardless, each deals a severe blow to the safety record of the entire ballo.oning community. For this reason, if for no other, it is paramount that all pilots take steps to avoid collision with powerlines. Towards this goal, some advice and discussion is offered through this newsletter media. 

Just what can happen? If a balloon coniacts powerlines at the basket, it is possible that the occupants touchtng any part of the metal superstructure or fuel system can be elec› trocuted. Such contact could also result in fire and explosion if hot wires penetrate a tank or fuel line. If a balloon makes contact with its suspension cables, the resultant arcing can sever the_cables. The occupants are left in free fall, either with the basket or on their own. Con• tact at the envelope may cause fabric melting, partial deflation and some electrical power transmission to the basket by way of the rip line, damp load tapes. or the pyrometer cable. All of these accidents can be avoided if proper care and precautions are taken. 

During launct1ing, powerlines are avoidable simply by launching downwind of the wires or at a safe distance upwind of the wires. This is 

Bob Ruppenthal 

