Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Fatal balloon 'was not airworthy'

Updated at 8:26 pm on 23 February 2012

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission says a balloon that crashed in Wairarapa killing 11 people was not airworthy because it had breached maintenance regulations.

Pilot Lance Hopping, of Masterton, and 10 passengers died when the balloon hit power lines and caught fire before plummeting to the ground near Carterton on 7 January this year.

As a result of the commission's interim inquiry, the Civil Aviation Authority is urgently inspecting New Zealand's 74 other balloons to make sure they are safe.

The commission says an investigation into the Carterton disaster found several serious breaches in the balloon's maintenance.

Chief investigator Tim Burfoot told Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme on Thursday it appears the strength of the balloon material was not tested in the way required by its manufacturer.

Captain Burfoot says it also appears the correct procedure for inspecting its burners and LPG fuel system was not followed - and that means the balloon should not have been in the air.

"That's what the rules say. If the rules are there for a purpose, they're there to ensure that the maintenance of balloons are done in a correct fashion. And if they don't comply with the Civil Aviation rules, then it can't be considered airworthy."

There was also an issue with the log book.

Captain Burfoot says it is too early to tell if the breaches were to blame for the crash.

Emma Peel, a spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority, told Checkpoint there are varying degrees of punishment for breaching the regulations.

"It could range from just removal of their authorisation, depending on culpability and liability, right though to prosecution for careless operation of an aircraft. There's nothing as yet discovered that requires emergency action."

Balloon Aviation Association president Martyn Stacey told Checkpoint in the 14 years he has been flying, he has never heard of an engineer not carrying out checks correctly.

Mr Stacey says he is pleased the Civil Aviation Authority is checking all balloons in the country.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission's chief commissioner says the nationwide tests are important for the public to maintain confidence in the ballooning industry - and the industry should welcome this.

John Marshall, QC, says it is also important that there be a record that all balloons have gone through stringent safety checks.

The commission says a final report on the Carterton crash is expected to be completed early in 2013.

Listen to Checkpoint interview with Tim Burfoot

Listen to Checkpoint interviews with Emma Peel and Martyn Stacey

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