Was ready to fly. Winds S to SW and slow.
About 10 balloons out as most are in Las Cruses or Utah for
balloon rallies.
The roads where under construction due to street work so it was a
task to get to the field.
Preflight brought a leak from the right tank (green handle,
instrument side) around the fuel hose. Twiked it for awhile
and all was well. Got the balloon upright and the leak
returned. So cancelled. The books always
refer to the O-ring in the burner but there is an square-ring in the tank
valve where the hose enters the valve on the tank
just beyond the hose threads. It is missing completely.
Just beyond the square-ring is an O-ring.
I am not sure it is a part I can find and fix a square-ring
myself and will need to look but for safety sake I will take it
in and learn from the experts.
The thought occurred to me to fly and not use that tank as the
rules say two sources of fuel for this balloon (Cameron N-90) we
have a 15 and a 10-gallon tank on the left side. I could
have moved tanks or crossed hoses to the left side and made it
work but my policy is to make sure everything is working before I
fly.
I remember one of the questions on my commercial orals or maybe
my orals during the check ride part of the test or maybe I just
thought about it. It was something like "if the fuel
source on the right side is empty and the left side blast value
fails what would you do". Answer-Take the hose from
the right side and connect it to the left side fuel source and
"land as soon as possible". It will reach as I
have tried it on the ground but you have to take it out of the
zipper cover. Can you imagine trying this with the pilot
and two passengers? Wow!
Don't know if you all have noticed that if the
hose in not attached to the tank you can open the tank value and
nothing comes out of the tank, as there is a check value in the
tank value just beyond the o-ring. I am not sure our 10-gallon
tank has that feature but will have to test it.
Was good practice for our new crew member, thanks crew for
assisting in the teaching and doing the various positions.
I remember my commercial instructor telling me about what it is
like when things are not as they are normally. I am so
spoiled that as everyone reacts to get the job done. As I
was doing a different process today trying to remember everything
was difficult. One crew walked up this morning as I had
just turned on the fan and says "Hummm. Where is the
safety harness?" Ah, that is what a checklist is for!
Oh well good breakfast.... thanks crew.