Incident Overview
A pilot departed Fredericksburg, Virginia, for a power line patrol flight in Port Royal, Virginia. After intersecting the power lines at a substation, the patrol commenced with the aircraft flying 10 feet above and 20 feet to the left of the lines.
Contact with Power Lines
The pilot reported that while looking forward outside the aircraft, he felt the aircraft contact the power lines. Contact with two lines resulted in the separation of four feet of the rudder, damage to the elevator, and substantial damage to the right flap.
Return Flight and Landing
Despite the damage, the pilot continued the flight and returned to Shannon Airport after declaring an emergency with Quantico Marine Base Air Traffic Control Tower. The pilot executed a long straight-in approach to Runway 23 and landed the aircraft without further incident.