What happened
A pilot and a passenger departed from a private helipad located at the pilot's residence to conduct an airborne cattle herding operation. After dropping the passenger off at the designated location, the pilot attempted to use the helicopter to divert cattle.
The pilot, who had operated in the area for approximately 24 years and was familiar with local electrical transmission lines, noted that weather conditions on the day of the accident were overcast. According to the pilot and a witness, the gray sky caused the wires to blend into the background, making them difficult to discern.
In an effort to maneuver and "cut off" a stray cow, the pilot ascended to an altitude above the transmission lines to plan a descent path. During this descent, the pilot encountered the wires unexpectedly at a distance of approximately 40 feet. The aircraft collided with two transmission wires at an altitude of about 80 feet above the ground, leading to an uncontrolled descent and subsequent impact with the ground.