On June 4, 1995, a Hughes 269B (registration N9474F) was involved in an aviation accident near Caldwell, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM POWER LINES. FACTORS INCLUDE SUNGLARE ENCOUNTERED WHEN HE TURNED INTO THE SUN. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A rotorcraft impacted a power service line and crashed while the pilot was surveying a field during aerial application operations.
Incident Overview
A pilot returning from aerial application operations reported that he elected to look over a field he intended to spray next. According to the pilot, his plan was to fly around a house on the west side of the field, then descend to fly parallel to east-west oriented power lines situated between two fields.
Sequence of Events
As the pilot banked around the house and flew eastward, he flew directly into the sun. He stated that he did not see the house's power pole and its associated service line. The rotorcraft struck the service line at an altitude of approximately 20 feet above ground level (AGL). After impacting the line, the rotorcraft continued eastward and impacted the ground about 150 feet further east.
Investigation Details
The investigation focused on the pilot's account of the maneuver and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. No other causal factors were identified in the source material.