Incident Details
An agricultural pilot experienced a sudden deceleration and loss of the left main landing gear after the gear became entangled with a broken static wire during a low-altitude spraying pass. The pilot reported that the aircraft was crossing under power lines estimated to be suspended 35 to 40 feet above the ground, with the wheels approximately 18 inches above ground level. The static wire, which had been previously cut by another aircraft, was dangling from atop a 65-foot utility pole. The pilot stated that the wire had been pulled off the ground by the utility company and temporarily tied off, leaving a portion suspended about 6 feet off the ground.
Sequence of Events
As the aircraft passed under the power lines, the left main landing gear caught the unsecured static wire. The pilot reported that the airplane decelerated 'rather abruptly' as the gear was torn from the airframe. The aircraft then impacted the ground in 'a slight nose low attitude' and skidded along the ground for 190 feet before coming to a stop.
Background
The utility company reported that a power interruption had occurred the evening prior to the accident. However, the downed static line was left unmarked. Neither the property owner nor the operator of the aircraft that had previously cut the line were notified of the downed wire before the accident.