CRM & Utility Flight Wire Training

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Sometimes knowing the HAT course fundamentals, of being a helicopter crew and understanding limitations, is not enough.

Helicopter Association International’s 25 minute Surviving the Wires Environment video

French rescue helicopter has a wire strike (400 m span) that cuts the winch cable, dropping the rescuer and rescued into the water. Click this link for more information.

It Happens…

28 years of Canadian Wire strikes. CADORS search query using "helicopter" and "wires". 38 reports from 1993 - 2020

2020-08-31

C-GNZF, a Eurocopter AS350B2 operated by Canadian Helicopters Ltd, was on an external load flight between 2 transmission lines in the Sacré-Coeur, QC, area when the main rotor contacted and severed an electrical cable. The pilot felt vibrations and immediately deposited and released the external load on the ground. The aircraft has been positioned away from the load, where it has landed safely. The main rotor was damaged and there were no injuries.

2019-09-19

C-GUFV, a Robinson R44 helicopter operated by Apex Helicopters, was conducting aerial spray operations when the pilot observed a power line in the path of the helicopter. The helicopter had been flying East at the time, and the sun was low and obscuring the pilots' forward vision to some degree. The tail of the helicopter made contact with a power line during an avoidance maneuver. The pilot made an immediate emergency landing in a field, and substantial damage to the skids, floor structure, and tail of the helicopter occurred, with the tail rotor becoming separated from the helicopter. The pilot was the sole occupant, and was uninjured. The ELT activated.

2019-09-03

C-GJJA, a Bell 206B aircraft operated by Qwest Helicopters, was conducting heli-slinging operations in support of a reforestation project, approximately 8 nm west of Fort McMurray AB with only the pilot on board. While maneuvering after setting down a load of tree saplings, the helicopter contacted a set of unmarked 240 kV power lines. The windshield and centre post were damaged, and one main rotor blade cut one of the power lines. The helicopter was not equipped with a wire strike kit. The pilot managed to maintain control, and set the helicopter down in a nearby cut block. The pilot was not injured, and was wearing a helmet with the visor in the down position.  The helicopter landed upright approximately 300m from the power line. Impact with the line reported to have started a fire. The helicopter sustained substantial damage.

2018-09-24

A privately operated amateur-built Mosquito XE helicopter, was on a flight from its home base 4 nm North of Indus/Winters Aire Park, AB (CFY4) to a location approximately 7 nm Southeast of CFY4 with only the pilot on board. During cruise flight, the pilot chose to follow the Highwood River westbound, just East of the Davisbruk bridge on highway 552 where it crosses the Highwood River. Approximately 1800 feet East of the bridge, the helicopter struck an unmarked power line that was strung across the river at approximately 75 feet above ground level. The helicopter departed controlled flight and impacted the ground on the river bank. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot was fatally injured. There was no post impact fire.

2018-08-01

C-GKDR, an Aerospatiale AS350-B2 helicopter operated by Access Helicopters, was applying fungicide to a wheat field with only the pilot on board. During an application pass, the helicopter struck a powerline and then collided with terrain. The pilot received a serious injury and the helicopter was substantially damaged. There was no post-impact fire. Local RCMP and EMS responded to the scene.

2017-08-01

A Héli-Mistral Robinson R44 was on a crop spraying flight in a field located 1 NM WSW of St-Anselme, QC, with only a pilot on board. While the aircraft was flying over the field between the road and the forest, the aircraft struck a cable and crashed. The aircraft was substantially damaged but the pilot was not injured.

2017-11-07

C-GRBZ, a privately registered Bell 206B helicopter, was operating low-level in a cranberry field in Richmond, BC near Westminster Highway and Highway 91 when the helicopter struck power lines and landed hard. The pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured; the helicopter was substantially damaged.

2016-10-27

The privately operated Bell 206B helicopter departed Charlo, New Brunswick enroute to Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec with a pilot and two passengers on board. At about 15:47 the helicopter collided with power lines 45 kilometers west of Charlo, causing substantial damage which resulted in the helicopter falling into the Restigouche River. The pilot and front seat passenger sustained fatal injuries. The passenger in the rear seat survived the accident and was assisted to shore by witnesses. A small amount of fuel was released; there was no post-crash fire. The search-and-rescue satellite system did not detect a signal from the emergency locator transmitter. The accident occurred during daylight hours.

2015-11-09

The Oceanview Helicopters Ltd. Hughes 369D helicopter was conducting aerial work on hydro lines with the pilot and a hydro worker on board. While installing a marker ball, the helicopter engine failed and it began to descend and collided with the terrain. The pilot and hydro worker sustained fatal injuries and the helicopter was destroyed in a post-impact fire.

2016-12-01

On 30 July 2015, the Canadian Helicopters Limited Airbus Helicopters AS 350 BA helicopter had been flown to a remote microwave tower site approximately 5 nautical miles west-southwest of Rigolet, Newfoundland and Labrador, with a pilot and 2 passengers on board. At about 1609 the helicopter lifted off from the helipad at the tower site and struck a tower guy wire with the main rotor. The helicopter struck the ground and settled on its upper right side. One passenger sustained fatal injuries, the pilot sustained serious injuries, and the other passenger sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was destroyed. The 406-megahertz emergency locator transmitter did not activate. There was no post-crash fire. The accident occurred during daylight hours.

2014-08-06

A Héli Mistral Inc. Schweizer 269C (C-GMJQ)helicopter, was conducting an application flight in a field about 3 NM NE of Saint-Lazare-de-Bellechasse, QC, with only the pilot on board. When pulling up at the end of the field, the helicopter struck a cable and crashed. The aircraft was substantially damaged but the pilot was uninjured.

2014-05-26

A Héli-Boréal Inc. Eurocopter AS350-BA was on a flight to inspect vegetation growth near power lines with a pilot and a specialist on board. The inspection flight was conducted about 50 feet from the 69 kV transmission towers. When coming out of a mountain side turn, the pilot did not see the 350 kV transmission line which crossed the 69 kV line. The 350 kV transmission line was not cutover as is normally the case and thus the pilot was not able to see the 350 kV line. The aircraft struck a wire and crashed in the woods under the 350 kV line. The two occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged but did not catch fire.

2014-04-17

C-FCSV, a Héli-Boréal Airbus (Eurocopter) AS350-B2 with a pilot and three passengers on board, took off while it was near a communication tower. During takeoff, the pilot wanted to bypass the tower and conduct a takeoff facing the wind away from the guy wires. Nevertheless, the main rotor came into contact with a guy wire and the aircraft crashed into the ground. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The pilot and one passenger were seriously injured while the two other passengers were not injured.

2012-10-05

The Bell 206-L4, C-FUEQ, took off from a road located between the guy lines, about 150 ft from the Dubray transmission tower. The tower had three guy lines attached at three different heights. Upon takeoff, the main rotor struck a guy line approximately 30 ft from the ground. The aircraft landed without further incident. The guy line was cut. The tips of both main rotor blades were substantially damaged. None of the three occupants was injured. The bases of the guy lines were marked.

2012-10-01

A Bell 206B helicopter had landed on the shoreline of the Oldman River, with a pilot and one passenger on board, in order to access a fly fishing site. Following departure from the site, the helicopter flew into an unmarked single wire power cable that spanned the river approximately one-quarter mile from the landing site. A section of the number 2 gauge cable wrapped around the mast and pitch links, resulting in a loss of control, and a forced landing was carried out in a field immediately adjacent to the river. The helicopter struck the ground twice before coming to rest in a partially upright position; it sustained substantial damage. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was uninjured. The downed power cable ignited a grass fire which spread across a large section of the field. Good VFR weather conditions existed at the time of the occurrence. The pilot had flown into the area in the past but was unaware of the cable. The helicopter was not fitted with a wire strike protection kit. The power pole that supported the cable on one end of the span was marked with red and white stripes; the opposite pole was obscured by trees. The power cable has been replaced and is now marked with two white cones on the section above the river.

2012-06-05

A Heli Dynamics Ltd. Bell 206B, C-GHDF, was conducting mosquito control operations 3 nm north of the Whitehorse airport. During the initial departure to commence application operations, the pilot flew towards the rising sun. The helicopter contacted an unmarked three strand power line on the forward transmission fairing. The pilot conducted an immediate landing onto a creek bed. The helicopter remained upright, however, the tail rotor struck the application hopper during the flare and touchdown. The pilot was uninjured.

2011-07-11

A privately-operated Robinson R44 II was on approach to land at Carievale, SK when the helicopter collided with a powerline. The pilot made a precautionary landing and determined the rotor system had sustained substantial damage. The pilot was not injured.

2011-06-02

A Highlands Helicopters Bell 206B was conducting a low level pipeline survey 5 NM east of Loon River, AB, when the aircraft struck an unmarked wire conduit. The pilot was able to conduct an emergency landing near the site. There was substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot and passenger were uninjured.

2010-07-06

C-GNBS, a Bell 206 owned by Sunrise Helicopters, was spraying fungicide on a field near Highway 9 south of Esterhazy, SK when the tail rotor struck a wire. The helicopter descended to the ground and was reported to be substantially damaged. The pilot was treated and released from hospital with an injured hand. The seat belt and shoulder harness were in use and the pilot was wearing a helmet as mandated by company policy. The aircraft was destroyed.

2011-05-09

A privately owned Robinson R44 II Raven helicopter, registered C-GJMP, took off from a construction site in Baie-Trinité (Québec) on a VFR flight to Baie-Comeau (Québec). At 12:49, the helicopter struck the grounding cable of a power line that crosses the Franquelin River, and crashed on the bank. The pilot suffered fatal injuries; the 2 passengers were seriously injured.

2011-02-03

As the aircraft was returning to the airport, the engine lost power and backfired. As the pilot was attempting to conduct an emergency landing, the aircraft struck the wires that cross Route 117, hit the road and flipped over into a ditch.

2014-08-27

Eurocopter 350BA registration C-GLMH, operated by Whapchiwem Helicopter Limited for Canadian Helicopter, took off from pylon 648 bound for Nemiscau. On take off, the main rotor and the tail rotor struck a pylon guy line. The aircraft started turning to the right and tipped forward. The aircraft came to a stop on the right side almost in an inverted position. The pilot and passenger incurred minor injuries.

2008-08-19

The R-22 Beta operated by Hélicraft 2000, was conducting a training flight with an instructor and student-pilot on board. When it was time to flare at the end of an autorotation, the helicopter’s blades struck and cut a metal wire. The aircraft landed without further incident. The blades were substantially damaged. The occupants were not injured in the accident.

2007-04-30

On April 4, 2007, the pilot was working with B.C. Hydro in the Prince Rupert Area. The pilot was asked to reposition the Alpen Helicopters Bell 206L to the other side of the power lines to keep B.C. Hydro from having to bring a boat from 1 ½ mile away to the work zone. This was not the normal or routine side of the power lines from which the pilot was working. Thus on take off, the pilot flew up into the lines, and severely damaged the aircraft. There were no injuries.

2006-12-12

A Gogal Air Services Robinson R44, C-FLAJ, was lifting off from a confined area about 5 NM north of Cranberry Portage, MB. During lift-off the main rotor contacted a power line and the helicopter crashed. There were no injuries; however, the helicopter was substantially damaged. The two occupants were able to communicate by radio and satellite phone and walked two miles to a highway where they were met by the RCMP.

2006-07-07

The pilot of C-FBFH, a Bell 206, was conducting a fly-by at an air show at the Fort Simpson airport for Canada Day celebrations. During a low pass, the helicopter struck a decommissioned power line. The helicopter did not have a wire kit installed and the wire then struck the pitch rotors, causing substantial damage. The helicopter began to experience severe vibration and the pilot made a precautionary landing in a nearby baseball field. The pilot and the two passengers on board were not injured, nor was anyone on the ground.

2003-07-10

The TSB says that the helicopter rotor struck a wire, which broke and fell on the aircraft. The pilot lost control and crashed at a steep angle. He was able to get clear of the plane before it was destroyed by fire.

2001-04-24

The operator reported that while performing a low-level geological survey flight, a survey instrument in tow on a long line was caught below an unmarked hydro wire (approximately 40 metres above ground level). The long line broke approximately one (1) metre above the survey instrument, which fell to the ground and was destroyed. There was no apparent damage to either the poles or wires and there was no damage to the helicopter. There were no injuries or ground property damage. At the time of the wire strike, the helicopter was flying at 70 knots at an altitude of approximately 70 metres above ground level. Local police, the utility company, the geological survey company and the helicopter owner were all informed of the collision. The pilot had seen the wires at the last minute and attempted to avoid them (but too late to avert the collision). The powerlines were on poles 10 metres high, spanning a valley. This resulted in the mid-point of the wires (the impact point) being approximately 40 metres high. Neither the poles nor the wires were visible against the horizon due to the rough, mountainous terrain. The pilot and the operator (of the survey equipment) had discussed the hazard of the wires prior to the flight. This was the second flight of the day (with 5.4 hours flown that day).

2000-02-10

The crew of C-GMPK, a Bell 206, was on a police surveillance mission when the helicopter's skid got caught on a suspended wire. This caused the helicopter to spin twice in the air. C-GMPK landed safely with minimal damage to the airframe. 

1999-10-13

The pilot of the Robinson r22 helicopter was practicing hovering in a farmer's field near Kelowna, when his tail rotor contacted a telephone line. He lost control of the helicopter which sustained substantial damage when it contacted the ground. The pilot who was the sole occupant was uninjured.

1998-07-16

The aircraft was drying out a cherry orchard in Creston B.C. when it struck a power line and crashed. The pilot and passenger both reported minor injuries - aircraft was substantially damaged. Prior to the incident, a site survey had been carried out, however the wire that the B206 struck, was not identified and was not seen by the pilot as it had been painted green.

1997-07-23

The helicopter was on approach to Selbaie mine into the sun. The helicopter struck high tension wires. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Substantial damage.

1997-02-03

At approximately 0830Z, C-GGHA departed from Skopje, Macedonia on a routine peacekeeping mission for the U.N. The aircraft made two stops at Nearby NORBAT (Nordic Batallion) observation posts to pick up three Finnish peace-keepers. The aircraft made its final departure at approximately 0845Z and proceeded southwest for a destination 50 miles away. The aircraft last reported its position at 0916Z while approaching Mavrovo Lake (about 30 miles enroute). At 0940Z, flight following received another report that the aircraft had gone down. It has been reported that shortly after making the position report, the aircraft struck aerial cables that traverse the valley over Mavrovo Lake (the aircraft was equipped with wire cutters). The aircraft came to rest in twenty feet of water. Macedonian police confirmed there were no survivors. The weather conditions at the time of the occurrence are unclear; however, the operator did receive reports of 1/8 SC and visibility 15 km and temperature -1C. They also received reports of patchy fog in low lying areas with reduced visibility of 3-4 km. 

1997-04-01

The pilot of the Bell 206B Jetranger Helicopter while departing for a local charter flight, chose to depart under a nearby power line. During the initial climb out after lifting off, one of the main rotor blades struck and severed a secondary power line that was smaller and lower than the higher main lines. The pilot managed to maintain control and carry out a landing. There were no injuries, however, there was substantial damage to the main rotor system.

1996-08-26

While taking off for a local flight, the aircraft touched electrical wires with the skids. The pilot lost control of the aircraft and hit the ground hard. 2 souls on board. 1 serious injury. Major damage to aircraft.

1996-06-17

The helicopter was doing a fisheries patrol on the Margaree river when it struck a hydro line which crossed the river. The aircraft struck the ice of the river and was destroyed. The pilot was fatally injured and the 3 passengers were seriously injured.

1993-10-25

A JetRanger during a search flight crashed after hitting a guy wire. Pilot and 3 passengers sustained fatal injuries. Weather was VFR.

1993-11-18

A JetRanger while searching a river for a missing person, main rotor struck an unmarked cable span. A/c landed safely. Substantial damage to the main rotor blades and pitch link assembly. No injuries.