N51852

On July 30, 2003, at 0720 Pacific daylight time, a Texas Helicopter Corporation OH-13E/M74 WASP, N51852, collided with power lines during an aerial application near Tulare, California. The pilot was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137. The commercial pilot was not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions existed during the flight and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed from the local area about 0600.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the pilot was on his nineteenth pass over the field, traveling eastbound. Power lines were located on the east and west side of the field. The power lines were attached to poles about 75 feet tall, and the top 6 feet of each pole contained three wires. The top wire, a black colored insulator wire, was located 3 feet from the top of the pole. The pilot located the outbox on the pole and determined he would fly above the box to clear all of the wires. As he flew over the lines, the helicopter impacted the insulator wire about 1/2 foot above the cockpit floor. The helicopter slid along the wire and then the wire broke from the insulator at the next pole. The poles were about 300 feet apart. As the helicopter impacted the ground, the left skid hit first, followed by the main rotor.

In a written report, the pilot stated that "paying more attention" would prevent future accidents.