What happened
On 23 April 1999, an Agusta Bell 206B, registration G-FINS, was conducting a private flight near Ingleby, Lincolnshire. The pilot had previously flown from Spalding to his farm and intended to inspect crops in one of his fields. While flying at an estimated altitude of 20 to 30 feet and a speed of 20 to 30 knots, the aircraft struck electricity power cables.
The cables were positioned at right angles to the helicopter's flight path and were suspended approximately 20 feet above the ground. The impact caused the main rotor blades to be torn from the aircraft. Following the collision, the pilot lost control, and the helicopter struck the ground, coming to rest on its left side. The aircraft was destroyed. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was able to exit the wreckage through the windscreen, which had shattered upon impact. An air ambulance crew arrived at the scene to secure the site by turning off the fuel and electrical systems.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot did not observe the cables before the collision occurred. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were described as dull with reasonable visibility. A weather report from RAF Waddington, located approximately 10 nautical miles away, indicated light rain and cloud layers between 1,000 and 4,000 feet. The investigation focused on the flight path and the visibility of the overhead obstructions during the low-level maneuver.