Incident Overview
During a cross-country flight, the pilot descended to overfly a lake along the route. While flying at low level into the setting sun, the airplane's right main landing gear contacted a marked power line approximately 70 feet above the lake's surface. The impact separated the right landing gear and broke an engine mount.
Immediate Actions
The pilot turned "immediately" toward a nearby airport and conducted a forced landing. The landing collapsed the left main landing gear and damaged the firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the incident.
Visibility of Power Line Markings
A witness stated that the power lines were marked by orange balls. However, the pilot reported that the balls appeared red and "dark." When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot suggested that "yellow or white balls would have been easier to see."
Aircraft Damage
The right main landing gear was separated from the aircraft, and an engine mount was broken during the initial strike. The subsequent forced landing resulted in the collapse of the left main landing gear and damage to the firewall. No other damage was reported.