Two hot air balloon hard landings have the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority considering changing its rules to force pilots to wear restraint harnesses when landing.
The consideration comes after two reports were released by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) investigating the two incidents in which the pilots were ejected from the baskets when landing, resulting in serious injuries.
TAIC released its final reports into the incidents involving a Sunrise Balloon Adventures hot air balloon, near Arrowtown, on July 9, 2021 and Ultramagic Balloons on January 1, 2022, at Lyndhurst, near Methven.
In the first incident, the balloon, carrying the pilot and 10 passengers, was attempting its third landing.
The first was aborted due to concerns raised about a sick passenger, and the second because the balloon started drifting towards a fence line.
The TAIC report said the balloon continued to increase speed as it flew towards the Kawarau River and Kawarau Gorge.
The pilot identified a suitable landing paddock and at 9.50am onboard video recorded the pilot briefing passengers for a fast landing, telling them to ‘‘make sure you hang on good’’.
However, the basket struck the lip of a gully and the pilot, not wearing a restraint harness, and two passengers were ejected, all sustaining serious injuries.
Eight passengers remained in the balloon’s basket as it travelled a further 150m, broke through a deer fence and came to rest near a farmhouse.
Seven of those people sustained minor injuries, and one was uninjured.
Sunrise Balloons had subsequently amended its safety briefing procedures and now required passengers to demonstrate the correct landing position prior to take-off.
In the Methven incident, the pilot activated the balloon’s fast deflation system as he approached the landing area.
The balloon initially contacted the ground then bounced, tipping over on its second contact with the ground and ejecting the pilot from the basket.
The TAIC report said the pilot’s injuries included neck fractures and temporary asphyxiation.
TAIC noted, under CAA rules, balloon pilots are exempt from wearing pilot restraint harnesses during landings.
TAIC subsequently recommended to both the CAA director and secretary of transport review and revise CAA rules to mandate the wearing of pilot restraint harnesses during critical phases of balloon flights.
CAA aviation safety deputy chief executive David Harrison said the authority contacted New Zealand’s four commercial balloon operators about risk of pilots not wearing the harnesses and all had now incorporated that requirement into their safety management plans
