What happened
The aircraft was engaged in agricultural operations, specifically spraying a corn field. During the operation at the north end of the field, the pilot flew beneath a set of overhead powerlines. While passing under these lines, the left wingtip made contact with the bottom wire of the powerline.
Following the impact, the pilot reported a loss of aileron control. He was forced to execute an emergency landing within the corn field. The incident occurred in conditions that included moderate turbulence, with wind estimated from the northwest at approximately 10 knots.
The investigation
The aircraft sustained damage to the left wingtip upon striking the powerline wire. However, the pilot reported that there was no additional damage to the airframe or systems beyond the initial contact point.
Findings
The primary factor in this incident was the loss of aileron control resulting from the physical obstruction caused by the powerline contact. The presence of moderate turbulence and wind conditions may have contributed to the difficulty in maintaining precise altitude and lateral positioning during the low-level agricultural operation.