Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to see and avoid wires while conducting a low-level aerial application flight.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that during an aerial application flight, the helicopter impacted wires that he failed to see, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor blades. He stated that a road that paralleled the field dipped down, which made the wires appear below the horizon. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.