Incident Overview
A helicopter parked on a trailer between two T-hangars and beneath a power line was involved in an accident during takeoff. The pilot reported that he cleared the area around the helicopter before departure but did not inspect the space directly above the aircraft. Upon lifting off from the trailer, the helicopter struck a power line approximately 30 feet above the ground.
Contributing Factors
The pilot noted that at the time of the accident, the sun was at an angle and intensity such that the wires were not visible. Additionally, the power line was not marked with red balls or other visual indicators that might have increased its conspicuity.
Sequence of Events
After the helicopter impacted the power line, the line became wrapped around the main rotor mast. This action partially separated one of the main rotor blades. Subsequently, the helicopter entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted the ground.
Investigation Findings
The accident investigation report, based on the pilot's statements, identified that the area directly over the helicopter had not been cleared prior to takeoff. The report did not assign a probable cause but documented the circumstances leading to the collision with the power line and the subsequent crash.