What happened
On 18 January 2002, an Aerospatiale AS350B Ecueuil, registration G-OGOA, was conducting a filming operation approximately 2 miles south of Bideford, North Devon. After an initial reconnaissance overflight, the pilot descended to an altitude of roughly 200 feet to capture footage along a valley characterized by steep, densely wooded slopes. The aircraft was traveling west at 60 knots under favorable visibility conditions.
During the mission, the pilot executed a left bank to steer clear of a house located within the flight path. During this maneuver, the front of the left skid made contact with a small power cable, which was subsequently severed. The crew performed a precautionary landing to assess the aircraft for potential damage. Following an initial inspection by engineering personnel, the helicopter was deemed safe for a single flight back to its base, where a comprehensive repair and inspection were completed.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the contact with the overhead line. The investigation established that the cable was a standard two-wire type used for domestic electricity supply. It was noted that the cable lacked any high-visibility attachments or markers. Furthermore, the supporting poles for the line were situated within the heavily wooded area, making them difficult to identify from the air during the low-level flight.