Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire during an agricultural application pass.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he was conducting agricultural spray operations at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he was distracted by ground vehicle traffic and the helicopter struck a wire. He lowered the collective, and the helicopter impacted the field. The helicopter rolled forward and came to rest on the left side of the fuselage. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system and the tail boom separated. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.