Incident Summary
A helicopter pilot was conducting an agricultural spray operation when the aircraft contacted a power line. According to the pilot's report, while maneuvering low around power lines, he pulled up and the right spray boom struck a power line. The pilot stated that following the contact, the fuselage pitched forward, and the main rotor blade cut the tail boom off just aft of the horizontal stabilizer. The helicopter then began to spin rapidly. After one or two rotations, the pilot closed the throttle, which stopped the rotation, and he cushioned the impact.
Damage
The fuselage and tail boom sustained substantial damage as a result of the accident.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.