During a dusk operation, rotary winged traffic hits an obstruction uncharted unlighted unmarked wire...

Attributes
ACN	345519
Time
Date	199607
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vrb
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 50 agl bound upper : 50
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ord
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	MD Helicopter 500/C/D/E/L
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	345519
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical inflight encounter other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	other

Narrative:

Descending over a canal (irrigation ditch) we struck a wire. The wire was strung between two (no longer in use) poles and it was acting as a 'stabilizing wire.' I saw the wire above and in front of my face and initiated a 'quick stop' by raising the nose of the helicopter to avoid it getting into the main rotor. The strike resulted in two cracked lower window panes and a bent pitot tube. No personal injuries or other property damage was noted. I believe that my affirmative action saved the helicopter from 'flipping' on its back and impacting with the ground.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING A DUSK OP, ROTARY WINGED TFC HITS AN OBSTRUCTION UNCHARTED UNLIGHTED UNMARKED WIRE.

Narrative: DSNDING OVER A CANAL (IRRIGATION DITCH) WE STRUCK A WIRE. THE WIRE WAS STRUNG BTWN TWO (NO LONGER IN USE) POLES AND IT WAS ACTING AS A 'STABILIZING WIRE.' I SAW THE WIRE ABOVE AND IN FRONT OF MY FACE AND INITIATED A 'QUICK STOP' BY RAISING THE NOSE OF THE HELI TO AVOID IT GETTING INTO THE MAIN ROTOR. THE STRIKE RESULTED IN TWO CRACKED LOWER WINDOW PANES AND A BENT PITOT TUBE. NO PERSONAL INJURIES OR OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS NOTED. I BELIEVE THAT MY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SAVED THE HELI FROM 'FLIPPING' ON ITS BACK AND IMPACTING WITH THE GND.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.