Hot air balloon pilot entered turbulence that caused the aircraft descent rate to increase.

Attributes
ACN	566061
Time
Date	200211
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tul.airport
State Reference	OK
Altitude	agl bound lower : 400 agl bound upper : 600
Environment
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 87 flight time type : 87
ASRS Report	566061
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : turbulence other anomaly
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : rate of climb indicator other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : became reoriented other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

While flying north (+/-10 degrees) at 2200 ft atl, I descended in order to change my heading to around +/-350 degrees. Intending to descend to 550 ft AGL over a non congested area, I descended at 300 FPM. As I neared 600 ft AGL, I had slowed my descent (to round out at 550 ft), but encountered turbulence that suddenly increased the speed of my descent. I responded by adding heat, but was unable to level out until approximately 400 ft AGL. I immediately ascended to 600 ft AGL. After adjusting my track to take me to the area where I wanted to land, I ascended to 1200 ft AGL and continued the flight. I am now more aware of the possibility of turbulence and will reduce my rate of descent as I get closer to the ground.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HOT AIR BALLOON PLT ENTERED TURB THAT CAUSED THE ACFT DSCNT RATE TO INCREASE.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING N (+/-10 DEGS) AT 2200 FT ATL, I DSNDED IN ORDER TO CHANGE MY HDG TO AROUND +/-350 DEGS. INTENDING TO DSND TO 550 FT AGL OVER A NON CONGESTED AREA, I DSNDED AT 300 FPM. AS I NEARED 600 FT AGL, I HAD SLOWED MY DSCNT (TO ROUND OUT AT 550 FT), BUT ENCOUNTERED TURB THAT SUDDENLY INCREASED THE SPD OF MY DSCNT. I RESPONDED BY ADDING HEAT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LEVEL OUT UNTIL APPROX 400 FT AGL. I IMMEDIATELY ASCENDED TO 600 FT AGL. AFTER ADJUSTING MY TRACK TO TAKE ME TO THE AREA WHERE I WANTED TO LAND, I ASCENDED TO 1200 FT AGL AND CONTINUED THE FLT. I AM NOW MORE AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF TURB AND WILL REDUCE MY RATE OF DSCNT AS I GET CLOSER TO THE GND.

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.