Hughes 269C, VH-MZR, Rosella Plains (260 km WNW of Townsville) QLD, 22 July 1987

The pilot was making a landing approach, to an area not normally used for helicopter operations, at the conclusion of a stock mustering operation. The helicopter collided with a single wire telephone line then landed heavily, rolling onto its side as the skids collapsed. The pilot reported that the wire was normally difficult to see because of age discolouration and the long span between poles. On this occasion he had forgotten that the wire ran through the area and did not see it during the approach. This accident was not the subject of an on-site investigation.