Recommendation

I refer to Air Safety Occurrence Report 200101[0]65 on the
accident involving V-77 (Viva) Cameron Balloon, VH-LPO, which
occurred in Evatt, ACT on 10 March 2001. Please accept my apologies
for the delay in my reply.



In response to the Recommendations R20010133 and R20010134, CASA
advises the following:



Recommendation R20010134



The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Civil
Aviation Safety Authority ensure that balloon owners and operators
identify and remove gas tank fittings that are not suitable for
balloon operations.



CASA has worked with balloon owners and operators, through the
Australian Ballooning Federation (ABF) Inc., to promulgate the
findings of the investigation into the above accident and to
provide feedback in respect of any unsuitable fittings. CASA staff
assisted the ABF in drafting the survey and assessing responses.
This action has assisted in ensuring that the recommendations have
been turned into practice in the immediate term.



Responses to date have identified other cases where the same
fittings were used on balloon fuel tanks, but where either the tank
geometry or use of an elbow fitting retained the rigid part of the
attachment to the fuel hoses within the guard ring of the tank.
There has also been a suggestion that the orientation of the tanks
in the basket can be arranged so as to minimise the risk of a
fitting being knocked inadvertently.



For the longer term, the Recommendation will be incorporated into
proposed Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) Parts 31 and 115M
and supporting guidance material for balloon certification and
maintenance.



Proposed CASR Parts 31 and 115M will be developed over the next 18
months in consultation with interested parties from the balloon
operation, manufacturing and maintenance sectors and the LP gas
industry. It is anticipated that these proposed CASR parts will
take effect from January 2004.