Incident Overview
A helicopter conducting aerial application operations sustained substantial damage after contacting a guy wire during a low-level flight over a field. The pilot reported making two passes over the area to identify potential obstructions before beginning the application, noting only one guy wire during those checks.
Sequence of Events
While making a final application pass along the edges of the field, the pilot flew around the previously observed guy wire. However, the helicopter's skid contacted a second guy wire that the pilot had not seen during the earlier reconnaissance passes. The impact caused the helicopter to roll onto its side and strike the ground.
Aircraft Condition
The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The damage from the ground impact was described as substantial.
Pilot Statement
According to the pilot, the pre-flight inspection and the subsequent two passes over the field were intended to identify hazards. Despite these precautions, the second wire was overlooked, leading to the incident.