What happened
On November 19, 2008, at approximately 11:15 Australian central daylight-saving time, a McDonnell Douglas 369D helicopter, registered VH-PLJ, was performing operations to test a high-voltage power line between Mannum and Mobilong, South Australia. The crew, consisting of a pilot and two linesmen, was maneuvering the aircraft to test a conductor joint when the main rotors made contact with a conductor.
Following the rotor strike, the helicopter impacted the ground. The accident resulted in 1 fatality, 1 serious injury to the pilot, and 1 minor injury sustained by one of the linesmen.