GA small aircraft hit a static wire while flying a 'routine power line patrol.'

Attributes
ACN	125689
Time
Date	198910
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vld
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 200 agl bound upper : 200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 124 flight time total : 8047
ASRS Report	125689
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying a routine power line patrol along a 115 kva line at approximately 200'. We had, or were just passing, a 230 kva line when I felt something strike the aircraft. The aircraft received damage to the left wingtip and vertical stabilizer/rudder. Both my observer and I saw the 230 kva lines pass underneath and cannot believe we had struck the static wires between the power line structures. A quick check showed they were intact. After an aircraft ctlability check at altitude, I returned for a routine landing at valdosta regional airport. If further investigation determines we did strike the power line static wires, a visual warning device (like the large balls placed on power line static wires across ends of runways or across rivers or lakes) would make power line patrol safer as it would provide a better altitude reference. This could prevent this type of incident in the future, such warning devices need to be installed only where power lines cross each other. I have over 2 yrs experience in power line patrol. I conduct these patrols at about 200' AGL.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA HIT A STATIC WIRE WHILE FLYING A 'ROUTINE POWER LINE PATROL.'

Narrative: I WAS FLYING A ROUTINE POWER LINE PATROL ALONG A 115 KVA LINE AT APPROX 200'. WE HAD, OR WERE JUST PASSING, A 230 KVA LINE WHEN I FELT SOMETHING STRIKE THE ACFT. THE ACFT RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WINGTIP AND VERTICAL STABILIZER/RUDDER. BOTH MY OBSERVER AND I SAW THE 230 KVA LINES PASS UNDERNEATH AND CANNOT BELIEVE WE HAD STRUCK THE STATIC WIRES BETWEEN THE POWER LINE STRUCTURES. A QUICK CHECK SHOWED THEY WERE INTACT. AFTER AN ACFT CTLABILITY CHECK AT ALT, I RETURNED FOR A ROUTINE LNDG AT VALDOSTA REGIONAL ARPT. IF FURTHER INVESTIGATION DETERMINES WE DID STRIKE THE POWER LINE STATIC WIRES, A VISUAL WARNING DEVICE (LIKE THE LARGE BALLS PLACED ON POWER LINE STATIC WIRES ACROSS ENDS OF RWYS OR ACROSS RIVERS OR LAKES) WOULD MAKE POWER LINE PATROL SAFER AS IT WOULD PROVIDE A BETTER ALT REFERENCE. THIS COULD PREVENT THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT IN THE FUTURE, SUCH WARNING DEVICES NEED TO BE INSTALLED ONLY WHERE POWER LINES CROSS EACH OTHER. I HAVE OVER 2 YRS EXPERIENCE IN POWER LINE PATROL. I CONDUCT THESE PATROLS AT ABOUT 200' AGL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.