Event GAA19CA039

Factual narrative

The helicopter pilot reported that, while maneuvering at a low altitude the main rotor blades struck power lines. He executed an emergency landing without further incident. The pilot added that the power lines were concealed by the sun and that the power lines were not annotated in his VFR sectional chart. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, while maneuvering at low altitude along a highway, the sun was in line with the helicopter's direction of travel and in his eyes. When the helicopter was about 200 ft above ground level, the main rotor blades struck three power lines strung across the highway. He executed an emergency landing without further incident. The pilot added that the unmarked wires crossed the highway from behind one hill to behind an adjacent hill on the other side of the highway and that the power line poles were not visible due to blocking terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Task monitoring/vigilance-Pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Wire-Effect on operation - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Glare-Effect on personnel - C
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Mountainous/hilly terrain-Contributed to outcome