Incident Overview
An EMS/medevac helicopter was involved in a wire strike during a patient pickup operation at a remote site. The pilot had landed at the site, loaded the patient, and then executed a hover turn before departing along the same route used for landing.
Departure
After the hover turn, the helicopter began its departure flight. The crew had been provided with a wire survey from highway patrol personnel prior to landing at the site. The highway patrol reported that there were no wires crossing the road.
Wire Strike
Approximately 538 feet east of the takeoff site and at an altitude of about 40 feet above the ground, the helicopter collided with a wire that crossed above a highway. The pilot reported seeing the wire just prior to the collision. The support wire snapped upon impact and then came into contact with the main rotor system.
Landing
Following the wire strike, the pilot managed to land the helicopter straight ahead. The aircraft came to rest without further incident.
Previous Information
Prior to landing at the patient pickup site, the crew had received a wire survey from highway patrol personnel. The survey indicated that there were no wires crossing the road, which was inconsistent with the wire encountered during departure.