Robinson R22 Beta, VH-HHD, 56 km north-north-west of Charters Towers, (ALA), Queensland, on 3 May 2004

On 31 March 2004, at 0600 Eastern Standard Time, the Robinson R22 helicopter with one pilot on board departed on a ferry flight to commence mustering operation from a property approximately 15 minutes flying time to the north-north-east. The pilot reported that he landed at the property and picked up a passenger who was going to show him the paddocks, fences and laneways.

At about 1000, after mustering cattle into a small paddock, the pilot made an approach to land beside a fence. The pilot indicated that the weather was fine with good visibility. The wind was from an easterly direction at 5 kts and the temperature was 25 degrees C. He reported that he saw a powerline and aimed to land adjacent to a point where the powerline changed direction. However, he did not see a third wire, which the helicopter struck at a height of about 30 ft. The helicopter spun into the ground and landed on a barbed wire fence. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom, lower vertical fin and tail rotor blades. The two occupants escaped with minor injuries.