BALLOON CONTACTS PWR LINE DURING LNDG IN AN APPARENT OPEN FIELD.

Narrative

I WAS APCHING A VERY LARGE UNCULTIVATED FARM FIELD ADJACENT TO A HWY FOR LNDG. THERE WAS A THIN ELECTRICAL WIRE ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. I COULD NOT SEE ANY SUPPORTING POSTS BECAUSE IT WAS SECURED ON THE R BY ONE OF THE POLES ALONG THE HWY TO THE R OF; AND PARALLEL TO; MY COURSE. THE OTHER END WAS SECURED TO A POLE HIDDEN BY A GROUP OF TALLER TREES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD. THE WIRE WAS A LIGHT GREEN AND BLENDED WITH THE VEGETATION UNTIL I DSNDED BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE LINE. WHEN I SAW THE LINE; I WAS BELOW IT AND DSNDING. I PULLED THE VALVE LINE IMMEDIATELY AND LANDED BEFORE THE LINE. THE TOP OF THE BALLOON MADE CONTACT WITH THE WIRE AND IT BROKE. THE BALLOON DEFLATED WITH THE TOP COVERING THE BROKEN WIRE. A VERY SMALL GRASS/FABRIC FIRE STARTED. WE HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND FIRE COMPANY AVAILABLE; BUT IT TOOK 30 MINS TO CONFIRM THE PWR WAS SHUT OFF SO WE COULD APCH. NO ONE WAS HURT; BUT THE BALLOON ENVELOPE WAS DAMAGED. BEFORE THIS INCIDENT; I DIDN'T FULLY REALIZE HOW DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE TO SEE A WIRE SUCH AS THIS. ANOTHER SMALL FACTOR WAS THE WORKLOAD ON LNDG WAS HIGHER THAN USUAL BECAUSE OF A WINDSHEAR BTWN 250-300 FT AGL. THAT REQUIRED EXTRA ATTN TO PROPERLY CTL THE DSCNT RATE AND BURNER FLAME.