ACFT'S L WHEEL PANT ENGAGES STATIC LINE OF PWRLINE WHILE ENRTE IN PROX OF RESTRICTED AREA.

Narrative

INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE RETURNING FROM FARMCO ARPT TO HBG USING THE LEAF RIVER FOR NAV TO AVOID R-4044 AND AT LOW ALT TO AVOID MODERATE THERMAL TURB AT HIGHER ALTS. WHILE FLYING WWARD FOLLOWING THE RIVER; I SAW A PWRLINE CLOSE TO THE ACFT. THE EVASIVE MANEUVER RESULTED IN ONLY THE L MAIN GEAR CONTACTING THE STATIC LINE CABLE ABOVE THE MAIN PWRLINES. THE CONTACT DAMAGED THE L WHEEL PANT. FLT CONTINUED WITH A SAFE LNDG AT DEST HOME BASE ARPT. PWRLINES OVER THE RIVER WERE DIFFICULT TO SEE LOOKING WWARD INTO THE SETTING SUN. PWRLINES WERE HIGHER THAN EXPECTED OVER THE RIVER. THE DANGERS OF PWRLINES WERE NOT EMPHASIZED SUFFICIENTLY DURING TRAINING.. LOW ALT FLT OVER UNPOPULATED AREAS IS TEMPTING BUT CONTAINS MORE HAZARDS THAN ARE APPARENT. INSTRUCTORS SHOULD SHOW PWRLINES AND OTHER AERIAL OBSTRUCTIONS TO PLTS DURING TRAINING AND AGAIN DURING BIENNIAL FLT REVIEWS. EXCEPT DURING LNDG; INSTRUCTORS SHOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT FLT BELOW 500 FT BE AVOIDED AT ALL TIMES. HIGHER VISIBILITY PWRLINE TWRS AND AT LEAST 1 'BALL' OVER RIVERS WOULD INCREASE PWRLINE VISIBILITY TO ACFT. PLT INSURANCE COMPANY AND ELECTRIC COMPANY HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.