Narrative:

At the given time and place, I was out and was doing some currency work among them emergency (engine out procedure) approachs and lndgs from different altitudes and into different fields. Trying to surprise myself, I cut (the power) when it seemed most unfavorable in all the situations. In this particular approach I cut the engine at 1500' AGL. I-93 runs parallel to the river down the valley, but it seemed too easy so I went for the river because of the congestions on the interstate. I knew of 2 pwrlines crossing the river, but both of them were far away from me. I took myself down lower than I normally do to see if I would have made it in a real situation. I was just about to go around when I saw a set of wires right in front of me. Due to my speed (vglide) I realized that I would not be able to climb over them since I already was on collision course with the lowest set, and my power was not regained so I tried to dive under them. Maybe not the best decision, but I didn't have all the time in the world to make a decision. Knowing that people had been using this part of the river for seaplane lndgs was maybe the reason why I considered it to be safe, but now I know better. The lowest wire cut off a part of my horizontal stabilizer. I was able to fly the airplane back to the airport and none of the wires were damaged. Knowing that a 2-3' higher altitude would have killed me, it is needless to say that I am not taking any kind of chance again. At least I am able to warn other pilots against flying low in terrain you don't know 100%. One thing that surprised me was that none of the wires were marked with any kind of markings, knowing that people have been using that part of the river for seaplane lndgs. I think that some markers would have prevented the incident. When this is said, it is no doubt that I put myself into this situation west/O having all information about that area, and that is my responsibility, and the only thing I can say is that it taught me that safety is no accident, it has to be planned.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PRACTICING FORCED LNDGS STRUCK POWER LINES.

Narrative: AT THE GIVEN TIME AND PLACE, I WAS OUT AND WAS DOING SOME CURRENCY WORK AMONG THEM EMER (ENG OUT PROC) APCHS AND LNDGS FROM DIFFERENT ALTS AND INTO DIFFERENT FIELDS. TRYING TO SURPRISE MYSELF, I CUT (THE PWR) WHEN IT SEEMED MOST UNFAVORABLE IN ALL THE SITUATIONS. IN THIS PARTICULAR APCH I CUT THE ENG AT 1500' AGL. I-93 RUNS PARALLEL TO THE RIVER DOWN THE VALLEY, BUT IT SEEMED TOO EASY SO I WENT FOR THE RIVER BECAUSE OF THE CONGESTIONS ON THE INTERSTATE. I KNEW OF 2 PWRLINES XING THE RIVER, BUT BOTH OF THEM WERE FAR AWAY FROM ME. I TOOK MYSELF DOWN LOWER THAN I NORMALLY DO TO SEE IF I WOULD HAVE MADE IT IN A REAL SITUATION. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO GO AROUND WHEN I SAW A SET OF WIRES RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. DUE TO MY SPD (VGLIDE) I REALIZED THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CLB OVER THEM SINCE I ALREADY WAS ON COLLISION COURSE WITH THE LOWEST SET, AND MY PWR WAS NOT REGAINED SO I TRIED TO DIVE UNDER THEM. MAYBE NOT THE BEST DECISION, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD TO MAKE A DECISION. KNOWING THAT PEOPLE HAD BEEN USING THIS PART OF THE RIVER FOR SEAPLANE LNDGS WAS MAYBE THE REASON WHY I CONSIDERED IT TO BE SAFE, BUT NOW I KNOW BETTER. THE LOWEST WIRE CUT OFF A PART OF MY HORIZ STAB. I WAS ABLE TO FLY THE AIRPLANE BACK TO THE ARPT AND NONE OF THE WIRES WERE DAMAGED. KNOWING THAT A 2-3' HIGHER ALT WOULD HAVE KILLED ME, IT IS NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT I AM NOT TAKING ANY KIND OF CHANCE AGAIN. AT LEAST I AM ABLE TO WARN OTHER PLTS AGAINST FLYING LOW IN TERRAIN YOU DON'T KNOW 100%. ONE THING THAT SURPRISED ME WAS THAT NONE OF THE WIRES WERE MARKED WITH ANY KIND OF MARKINGS, KNOWING THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING THAT PART OF THE RIVER FOR SEAPLANE LNDGS. I THINK THAT SOME MARKERS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE INCIDENT. WHEN THIS IS SAID, IT IS NO DOUBT THAT I PUT MYSELF INTO THIS SITUATION W/O HAVING ALL INFO ABOUT THAT AREA, AND THAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY, AND THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY IS THAT IT TAUGHT ME THAT SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT, IT HAS TO BE PLANNED.

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.