Air Tractor AT301, VH-FAQ, Freeling SA, 28 September 1986

198600900

Summary

It was after sunset when the pilot was doing clean up runs after spraying a pea crop. Sufficient light remained to complete the job, however the pilot had the floodlights on. The spray runs had been in a north/south direction but the clean up runs were made east/west. A powerline ran obliquely through the paddock in a southwest/ northeast direction. A smaller SWER line ran south from the main line, above the eastern fence of the paddock. After turning west to fly along the southern fence of the paddock, the aircraft struck the SWER line. The pilot advised that he had known of the presence of the two powerlines. He had temporarily forgotten about the smaller SWER line because he was concentrating on the main powerline that he had been avoiding all afternoon. He saw the SWER line, pulled up and thought he had missed it, but when he landed he discovered that one of the floodlights was missing. The distance between powerpoles was 100 metres with a minimum clearance of 5.5 metres from the top of the fence. The aircraft struck the SWER line 40 metres from the nearest pole.

Occurrence summary

Investigation number 198600900
Occurrence date 28/09/1986
Location Freeling
Report release date 16/10/1987
Report status Final
Investigation type Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status Completed
Mode of transport Aviation
Aviation occurrence category Wirestrike
Occurrence class Incident
Highest injury level None

Aircraft details

Manufacturer Air Tractor Inc
Model AT301
Registration VH-FAQ
Serial number 301-0209
Operation type Aerial Work
Departure point Freeling
Destination Freeling
Damage Minor