Wirestrike involving a Robinson R22 Beta, VH-THP, 5 km west of Giru, Queensland, on 12 February 1994

The pilot was flying the helicopter in a spraying operation over a paddock adjacent to a farmhouse. A study of his map and an aerial inspection had led him to believe that a major spur powerline terminated at a transformer near the farmhouse. However, this was not the case as the three-phase powerline continued on in long spans.

He had almost finished the task and required one final spray run at 90 degrees to his previous swaths and the unseen powerline bordering the paddock. As he pulled up after the run, the spray boom collected the wires. The helicopter gyrated, losing the tail boom to a main rotor strike, and crashed some 15 metres beyond the powerline.

The pilot had not seen the powerline at any stage.