Aerial Application Aircraft Noses Over After Power Line Encounter (N7245)

What happened

The pilot was conducting an aerial application operation when he attempted to navigate beneath a set of power lines. As the aircraft descended toward the wires, the main landing gear made contact with freshly plowed soil on the ground. This impact caused the aircraft to nosed over.

The pilot later stated that his visibility was compromised by a dirty windshield while flying directly into the rising sun. He believed these conditions contributed to the accident by obscuring the location of the power lines and the terrain below.

The investigation

No mechanical examination or physical evidence analysis is reported in the source material. The account relies entirely on the pilot's statement regarding the sequence of events and his assessment of contributing factors.

Findings

The primary findings indicate that the aircraft encountered obstacles during a low-altitude maneuver. Contributing factors included:

• Contact between the main gear and freshly plowed soil
• Reduced visibility due to a dirty windshield
• Glare from the rising sun
• Difficulty identifying the location of power lines