Helicopter pilot was flying low level at night and struck a power line.

Attributes
ACN	739357
Time
Date	200705
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 150
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Operator	Other
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 114 flight time total : 1776 flight time type : 1398
ASRS Report	739357
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While on a police patrol flight in the X valley; I entered a canyon from the west for a familiarization flight leg. I made a descending left turn back toward the west; and began following the wash to exit the canyon wbound. I felt what I believed to be a bird strike on the aircraft. I assessed the control feedbacks and scanned the instrument panel. I noted nothing unusual in the cyclic; collective; or pedal controls. There was no vibration; buffeting; or stiffness; and all engine; power; and transmission gauges were in their normal ranges. I made the decision to land at ZZZ to inspect the aircraft. I contacted the ZZZ ATC tower and requested landing. ZZZ tower cleared me to land at the helipads. I entered a left base leg and landed without incident. Aircraft inspection; and a subsequent department investigation; revealed I had struck a residential power line. I believe this incident was caused by a combination of my unfamiliarity with the string of power lines; and my low reconnaissance altitude. A higher altitude while in unfamiliar territory will prevent any recurrence.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELICOPTER PLT WAS FLYING LOW LEVEL AT NIGHT AND STRUCK A POWER LINE.

Narrative: WHILE ON A POLICE PATROL FLT IN THE X VALLEY; I ENTERED A CANYON FROM THE W FOR A FAMILIARIZATION FLT LEG. I MADE A DSNDING L TURN BACK TOWARD THE W; AND BEGAN FOLLOWING THE WASH TO EXIT THE CANYON WBOUND. I FELT WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE A BIRD STRIKE ON THE ACFT. I ASSESSED THE CTL FEEDBACKS AND SCANNED THE INST PANEL. I NOTED NOTHING UNUSUAL IN THE CYCLIC; COLLECTIVE; OR PEDAL CTLS. THERE WAS NO VIBRATION; BUFFETING; OR STIFFNESS; AND ALL ENG; PWR; AND XMISSION GAUGES WERE IN THEIR NORMAL RANGES. I MADE THE DECISION TO LAND AT ZZZ TO INSPECT THE ACFT. I CONTACTED THE ZZZ ATC TWR AND REQUESTED LNDG. ZZZ TWR CLRED ME TO LAND AT THE HELIPADS. I ENTERED A L BASE LEG AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. ACFT INSPECTION; AND A SUBSEQUENT DEPT INVESTIGATION; REVEALED I HAD STRUCK A RESIDENTIAL PWR LINE. I BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A COMBINATION OF MY UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE STRING OF PWR LINES; AND MY LOW RECONNAISSANCE ALT. A HIGHER ALT WHILE IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY WILL PREVENT ANY RECURRENCE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.