Hot-Air Balloon Flight Continues with Reopened Tear Mid-Flight, ATSB Reports

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has reported on a concerning incident involving a commercial hot-air balloon flight in south-east Queensland. The flight, carrying 24 passengers, proceeded despite a taped-over rip in its fabric reopening mid-flight.

The pilot for Go Ballooning Gold Coast performed a field repair on a 45-centimetre tear without fully understanding the manufacturer’s limits or requirements.

Mid-Flight Incident and Landing

During the 30-minute flight, the adhesive tape used for the repair became loose, causing the tear to partially reopen. Rather than landing immediately, the pilot continued the flight for another five to ten minutes. The balloon eventually landed safely at Kerry, approximately 17 kilometers south of its launch site, on October 18 last year.

Commercial Pressures Influenced Pilot's Decision

ATSB director of transport safety, Stuart Godley, stated that the pilot, who was also responsible for maintenance, likely felt pressure to continue the flight. This pressure stemmed from the 24 passengers who had already arrived for the flight.

Godley indicated that the pilot's perceived passenger expectations were a strong motivator to proceed rather than canceling and rescheduling for proper repairs.

Repair Exceeded Manufacturer's Limits

The 45-centimeter tear significantly exceeded the manufacturer’s allowable limit for adhesive-only field repairs. Manufacturer's guidelines stipulated that tears larger than 2.5 centimeters required over-stitching. The ATSB found that the pilot did not fully comprehend this manufacturer’s guidance.

The 45-centimeter tear exceeded the manufacturer’s allowable limit for adhesive-only field repairs; tears larger than 2.5 centimeters required over-stitching.

Origin of the Damage

The initial damage to the balloon occurred at the Beaudesert launch site. A sudden wind change during inflation blew the balloon towards light poles, causing the tear. The ATSB highlighted that consulting the flight manual would have indicated that the flight should have been postponed or canceled due to the risk of potential failure.

ATSB Calls for Adherence to Safety Standards

The ATSB report concluded with a stark warning about the dangers of normalized unsafe practices. Non-approved repairs that appear to function without immediate consequence can lead to complacency, posing a significant risk to passenger safety.

The ATSB report concluded that non-approved repairs that appear to function without consequence can normalize unsafe practices, posing a significant risk.

The report strongly advised that operators and maintainers familiarize themselves with approved maintenance standards. It also urged them to be acutely aware of commercial pressures that might lead to decisions to continue flights without proper and authorized repairs.