hot-air balloon tours: crash epidemiology in the u.s.,...
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Hot-air Balloon Tours:Hot-air Balloon Tours:Crash Epidemiology in the U.S., 2000-2011Crash Epidemiology in the U.S., 2000-2011
Sarah-Blythe Ballard, MD, MPHLCDR MC(FS/FMF) USN
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthUnited States Navy
Co-Authors from the Johns Hopkins Co-Authors from the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and PolicyCenter for Injury Research and Policy
Leland P. BeatyLeland P. Beaty Susan P. Baker, ScD (Hon.), MPHSusan P. Baker, ScD (Hon.), MPH
• This research was supported by grants from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• We have no commercial conflicts of interest to disclose
• I will not discuss off-label or investigational use in this presentation
Background Background
Purpose - to examine the risk factors for Purpose - to examine the risk factors for injury and death in crashes of hot-air injury and death in crashes of hot-air balloon ridesballoon rides
Obtained crash reports from NTSB for Obtained crash reports from NTSB for time period of Jan ‘00 through Dec ‘11time period of Jan ‘00 through Dec ‘11
FindingsFindings
78 reported crashes 78 reported crashes over the 12-year period over the 12-year period involving involving 519 occupants519 occupants
55 fatal, fatal, 9191 serious, and serious, and 9191 minor injuries minor injuries
65 of the crashes (65 of the crashes (83%83%)) resulted in at least resulted in at least one serious or fatal injury*one serious or fatal injury*
*vs 32% of helicopter or airplane commercial air tour crashes resulting in at least one serious or fatal injury
Albuquerque
Balloon Ride Crash SitesBalloon Ride Crash Sites
Time of YearTime of Year
Month
# Crashes
Fixed Object CollisionsFixed Object Collisions
50% 50% of serious of serious injuries (46/91)injuries (46/91)
5 of 5 deaths 5 of 5 deaths
So, a major factor So, a major factor in balloon ride in balloon ride crash outcomescrash outcomes
Power Line StrikesPower Line Strikes
““Burning”- flying aboveBurning”- flying above 25% resulted in fatalities25% resulted in fatalities 46% resulted in serious injuries46% resulted in serious injuries
““Ripping”- landing belowRipping”- landing below No fatal crashes!No fatal crashes! 30% resulted in serious injury30% resulted in serious injury
* Aerostar International, Technically Speaking. May/June 1988.
Phase of FlightPhase of Flight
Nature of Serious InjuriesNature of Serious Injuries
The Bottom LineThe Bottom Line
In balloon ride crashes, the incidence of serious In balloon ride crashes, the incidence of serious injuries is highinjuries is high
Some risk factors for serious and fatal outcomes Some risk factors for serious and fatal outcomes are modifiableare modifiable
Major recommendationsMajor recommendations Improve training for balloon ride pilotsImprove training for balloon ride pilots Improve object strike outcomes (esp. power lines)Improve object strike outcomes (esp. power lines) Reduce landing-associated injuriesReduce landing-associated injuries
Thank you
Egypt, 27 February 2013Egypt, 27 February 2013
Objects Strikes in Crashes Resulting Objects Strikes in Crashes Resulting in Serious or Fatal Injuryin Serious or Fatal Injury
InjuryInjury
Collision w/Collision w/#Fatal#Fatal #Serious#Serious
TreeTree 11 2222
TerrainTerrain 11 99
Power linePower line 22 55
MultipleMultiple 00 55
BuildingBuilding 11 22
FenceFence 00 33
TotalTotal 55 4646
Primary Pilot ErrorPrimary Pilot Error100% of Fatal & 90% of Serious Injuries100% of Fatal & 90% of Serious Injuries
InjuryInjury
Collision w/Collision w/#Fatal#Fatal #Serious#Serious
Excessive Rate of DescentExcessive Rate of Descent 11 3737
Failure to Maintain ClearanceFailure to Maintain Clearance 33 2020
Flight into Adverse WeatherFlight into Adverse Weather 11 66
OtherOther 00 77
NoneNone 00 1616
TotalTotal 55 9191
Aircraft Damage in Crashes Aircraft Damage in Crashes Resulting in Serious or Fatal InjuryResulting in Serious or Fatal Injury
*Ballard, Beaty, Baker. Accid Anal & Prev 2013
Fatal/SeriousHot-air Balloon
Rides
Fatal/SeriousHelicopter/Airplane
Tours*
DamageSubstantial/Destroyed
DamageSubstantial/Destroyed
Fatal Crashes (5)Fatal Crashes (5) DEN08LA004DEN08LA004 – – Gondola collided with power line, Gondola collided with power line,
broken drop line, passenger ejected (blunt trauma)broken drop line, passenger ejected (blunt trauma)
LAX02FA135LAX02FA135 – – Gondola collided with wall, Gondola collided with wall, passenger ejected (blunt trauma)passenger ejected (blunt trauma)
LAX05LA135LAX05LA135 – – Gondola impacted hilltop/peak Gondola impacted hilltop/peak (using 1 of 2 burners), fatal injury not described (using 1 of 2 burners), fatal injury not described
LAX07LA126LAX07LA126 – – Power lines hit basket, landing Power lines hit basket, landing bounce, pax ejected, basket landed on pax (blunt trauma)bounce, pax ejected, basket landed on pax (blunt trauma)
NYC08FA307NYC08FA307 – – Gondola hit trees, hard landing, Gondola hit trees, hard landing, rollover, pax ejected, pilot on fire (smoke inhal., burns) rollover, pax ejected, pilot on fire (smoke inhal., burns)