Event Summary
At dawn, a helicopter was flying over an agricultural field to perform frost control. The pilot flew three passes at low altitude to distribute warm air onto the crops. During these passes, he observed power lines in the vicinity.
Flight Details
On the fourth pass, the pilot descended to about 50 feet above ground level and lost sight of the power lines. Concerned about a potential collision, he initiated a right turn. Halfway through the turn, the main rotor blades struck the power lines. The helicopter then descended to the ground.
Aftermath
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.