Accident Overview
A helicopter on a traffic watch and photography flight was requested to land in a parking lot to deliver video tapes to a ground crew. A relatively new ground observer was assigned to assist in keeping the helicopter clear of obstacles during the landing.
Sequence of Events
The pilot stated that he was informed the selected landing area was clear of obstructions. He reported performing a high reconnaissance check for obstructions. However, during the approach to land at dusk, neither the pilot nor the photographer observed power lines that crossed the landing area. Moments before touchdown, the helicopter's skids snagged the power lines, causing the helicopter to crash to the ground.
Investigation Details
The investigation noted that the power lines were not seen until it was too late to avoid them. The ground observer, who was relatively new, was tasked with helping keep the helicopter clear of obstacles. The crash occurred after the skids caught the power lines during the landing approach.