content_image/525959.jpg content_image/525961.jpg content_image/525960.jpg content_image/525968.jpg
valves. Short pieces of pipe associated with quick disconnects at the tank valves or for any• other reason must be carefully protected (usually by rotating the tank until the fitting is 

protected by the gondola structure) from heavy body contact by the pilot or passengers. These short pieces of pipe act as levers which multiply the force of the blow on the valve body. It is possi› ble to break tank valves in this manner. Brass fittings have only % the strength of steel for an equal thickness; therefore, these fittings are the most suspect and require special attention. 

Fuel tanks can be burned through by arcing power lines. It is unlikely that a pilot can do much to protect tanks from this exposure ex› cept by avoiding power lines. 

1 he hazard of power lines 1S generally ac› ceptetJ as balloor11ng s greatest danger. Con› tacting power lines below the equator of the envelope will generally result 1n • burn1ng through the flyrng wnes as the envelope drags tt1e gondola over tLn wires If contact IS made at or below the supr,rstruc;ture a good chance of a fuel tank or turd l1ne rupture ex1st_s from power lrne arc1ng. Ne1ther oi these alternatives IS acceptable Powor 1rne contact above the equator 1s much less hazardous because the balloon Will be forcr;d to the ground by a com› bina\lon of the otJ’otl uctron and w1nd force. Therrn1c: conli1t1or•, may complicate ttw last option. 

Obv1ously :r1e best way •to promote your per› sonal safety {in~ludHlQ pas~.engers) 1s tc avoid power lrnes Avoidance of power lines. wh1le 

<img src='content_image/525959.jpg'>

<img src='content_image/525961.jpg'>

highly desirable, will not always be possible. Each of us will at some time in our balloon fly› ing career make a serious in-flight decision about power line contact. This decision will be hard, perhaps terrifying and very serious. 

Knowing that collision with a power line must occur in a precise way in order to minimize personal injury is a big part of the decision criteria. Acting quickly is also necessary. The decision involves "burn" or "rip". Emotionally, all pilots will want to "burn" because if you can fly over the wires-missing them completely-there are no complications once safe passage occurs. The nagging prob• lem is predicting absolutely that you can clear the power lines. On the other hand, ripping is a safer decision because there is almost no 

<img src='content_image/525960.jpg'>

chance that the envelope will contact the power line incorrectly, r.e. below the equator. -- The• •problems- with ripping are- numerous; however, these problems are not as likely to be fatal. 

Consider the possible problems of rrpping: 

<img src='content_image/525968.jpg'>

a. The prlot"s ego may be severely wounded because there 1S tt1e possrb1lrty of criticism for over reactrng. On the other hand. it may be nice to be a11ve and capable of personally drscuss› ing thrs critiCISm. 

