OLDTOWN, MD, USA
N508SC
BELL UH-1B
WHILE SPRAYING OVER HILLY/WOODED TERRAIN FOR CONTROL OF GYPSY MOTHS, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TWO 3/8 INCH SHIELD CABLES (ATOP A PWR LINE) NEAR THE BOUNDARY OF THE AREA TO BE SPRAYED. WITNESSES SAW SPRAY COMING OUT OF THE SPRAY BOOMSAT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER THEN RAISE UP & FELL TO THE RIGHT BEFORE THE HELICOPTER CRASHEDON THE SIDE OF A HILL. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A WIRE CUTTER KIT.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OBSTRUCTION (STATIC WIRES), AND THE LACK OF VISUAL CUES FOR THE PILOT TO DETECT THE WIRES.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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