A commercial hot air balloon pilot landed in a church yard with a fuel leak.

Attributes
ACN	234788
Time
Date	199302
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : z16
State Reference	AK
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff cruise other landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1550 flight time type : 1550
ASRS Report	234788
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While flying at approximately 1200 ft AGL with 2 passenger on board, a leak developed in 1 of my tank valve stems. These are standard 20 gallon lie down tanks. The leak was very noticeable but not bad enough that I could not turn off valve with a gloved hand. After I turned off the valve, the leak continued at the same rate. My other option was to land as soon as possible. The wind conditions were very light and variable, less than 3 KTS in any level. The only open area in my direction of travel with no power lines was a small church lot. Not knowing whether the leak would get worse or how long I would have to fly with light and variable conditions, I chose to land on the church lot. We made a safe landing, not touching any obstacles. My chase crew was at the site with a spare tank, so I changed tanks and flew on. The landing site was much smaller than I would have chosen under normal conditions, but I know I could make a safe landing. The temperature was below 30 degrees and I have been using nitrogen to charge my tanks. With the tank being exposed to the WX for so long and temperatures below freezing, I am sure the o-ring cracked with the combination of condensation and nitrogen.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A COMMERCIAL HOT AIR BALLOON PLT LANDED IN A CHURCH YARD WITH A FUEL LEAK.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING AT APPROX 1200 FT AGL WITH 2 PAX ON BOARD, A LEAK DEVELOPED IN 1 OF MY TANK VALVE STEMS. THESE ARE STANDARD 20 GALLON LIE DOWN TANKS. THE LEAK WAS VERY NOTICEABLE BUT NOT BAD ENOUGH THAT I COULD NOT TURN OFF VALVE WITH A GLOVED HAND. AFTER I TURNED OFF THE VALVE, THE LEAK CONTINUED AT THE SAME RATE. MY OTHER OPTION WAS TO LAND ASAP. THE WIND CONDITIONS WERE VERY LIGHT AND VARIABLE, LESS THAN 3 KTS IN ANY LEVEL. THE ONLY OPEN AREA IN MY DIRECTION OF TRAVEL WITH NO PWR LINES WAS A SMALL CHURCH LOT. NOT KNOWING WHETHER THE LEAK WOULD GET WORSE OR HOW LONG I WOULD HAVE TO FLY WITH LIGHT AND VARIABLE CONDITIONS, I CHOSE TO LAND ON THE CHURCH LOT. WE MADE A SAFE LNDG, NOT TOUCHING ANY OBSTACLES. MY CHASE CREW WAS AT THE SITE WITH A SPARE TANK, SO I CHANGED TANKS AND FLEW ON. THE LNDG SITE WAS MUCH SMALLER THAN I WOULD HAVE CHOSEN UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, BUT I KNOW I COULD MAKE A SAFE LNDG. THE TEMP WAS BELOW 30 DEGS AND I HAVE BEEN USING NITROGEN TO CHARGE MY TANKS. WITH THE TANK BEING EXPOSED TO THE WX FOR SO LONG AND TEMPS BELOW FREEZING, I AM SURE THE O-RING CRACKED WITH THE COMBINATION OF CONDENSATION AND NITROGEN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.