Balloon
Flight Crew Lighter-Than-Air; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3; Flight Crew Total 4600; Flight Crew Type 400
Troubleshooting; Workload; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Aircraft
[I had a] normal balloon inflation; weather perfect. [I] flew approximately 15 minutes to 1;000 FT AGL. Control lines to balloon rotator vents became entangled. While attempting to correct vent problem; balloon encountered rapid descent striking surface. Balloon recovered to flight with no damage to persons or property. [I] flew on to landing 30 minutes later.
A Ballon's Rotator Vent Control Lines became entangle resulting the loss of aircraft control and a rapid descent to ground contract. The Pilot recovered and continued the flight.