Helicopters and Wires

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Anyone else besides me here ever hit a wire in a helicopter? I did it
at night while crop dusting in California. Was a steel cable and all it
did was leave "chatter" marks in the paint and tore the end cap. Very
close call and we had to replace the blades (which were just about
timed out anyway).
I have a healthy respect for wires and fly in that environment quite a
bit so have some opinions and experience if anyone is interested.
Ol Shy & Bashful

[Jim Carriere]

wrote:
> Anyone else besides me here ever hit a wire in a helicopter? I did it

No, not yet anyway:) Came close one night to some hi tension lines
across a river- the lines were just low enough to not have
obstruction lights, and I was just high enough to miss them.

> at night while crop dusting in California. Was a steel cable and all it
> did was leave "chatter" marks in the paint and tore the end cap. Very
> close call and we had to replace the blades (which were just about
> timed out anyway).
> I have a healthy respect for wires and fly in that environment quite a
> bit so have some opinions and experience if anyone is interested.

You probably have more time below 200' AGL than anybody on here.
What do you think of powerline warning systems? I've heard of one
that picks up the RF and then gives a proximity warning. Good, bad?
False alarms, not enough warning, or maybe a pretty decent idea?

[Jim Carriere]

wrote:
> Anyone else besides me here ever hit a wire in a helicopter? I did it

No, not yet anyway :) Came close one night to some hi tension lines
across a river- the lines were just low enough to not have
obstruction lights, and I was just high enough to miss them.

> at night while crop dusting in California. Was a steel cable and all it
> did was leave "chatter" marks in the paint and tore the end cap. Very
> close call and we had to replace the blades (which were just about
> timed out anyway).
> I have a healthy respect for wires and fly in that environment quite a
> bit so have some opinions and experience if anyone is interested.

You probably have more time below 200' AGL than anybody on here.
What do you think of powerline warning systems? I've heard of one
that picks up the RF and then gives a proximity warning. Good, bad?
False alarms, not enough warning, or maybe a pretty decent idea?

[Rod]

Good though Jim the idea is close to happen the warning will be lights and
sound as well light will flash on towers and the cabled in between the
towers and poles its been a long time to get this sort of safety for crop
dusters and flyers
Cheers Rod
"Jim Carriere" > wrote in message
...
> wrote:
>> Anyone else besides me here ever hit a wire in a helicopter? I did it
>
> No, not yet anyway :) Came close one night to some hi tension lines
> across a river- the lines were just low enough to not have
> obstruction lights, and I was just high enough to miss them.
>
>> at night while crop dusting in California. Was a steel cable and all it
>> did was leave "chatter" marks in the paint and tore the end cap. Very
>> close call and we had to replace the blades (which were just about
>> timed out anyway).
>> I have a healthy respect for wires and fly in that environment quite a
>> bit so have some opinions and experience if anyone is interested.
>
> You probably have more time below 200' AGL than anybody on here.
> What do you think of powerline warning systems? I've heard of one
> that picks up the RF and then gives a proximity warning. Good, bad?
> False alarms, not enough warning, or maybe a pretty decent idea?
>

[Fisherman]

Sounds like a really expensive idea to rig all of the poles and wires too.

Good though Jim the idea is close to happen the warning will be lights and
sound as well light will flash on towers and the cabled in between the
towers and poles its been a long time to get this sort of safety for crop
dusters and flyers
Cheers Rod
"Jim Carriere" wrote in message
...
wrote:
Anyone else besides me here ever hit a wire in a helicopter? I did it

No, not yet anyway :) Came close one night to some hi tension lines
across a river- the lines were just low enough to not have
obstruction lights, and I was just high enough to miss them.

at night while crop dusting in California. Was a steel cable and all it
did was leave "chatter" marks in the paint and tore the end cap. Very
close call and we had to replace the blades (which were just about
timed out anyway).
I have a healthy respect for wires and fly in that environment quite a
bit so have some opinions and experience if anyone is interested.

You probably have more time below 200' AGL than anybody on here.
What do you think of powerline warning systems? I've heard of one
that picks up the RF and then gives a proximity warning. Good, bad?
False alarms, not enough warning, or maybe a pretty decent idea?

[[email protected]]

Jim
I'm not sure if the warnings will work or not. Non-powered lines for
example? I question who is flying that low and for what purpose? In ag
work we are more wire aware simply as a matter of survival! Certainly
there are other aspects of rotor work that put them in the wired up
regime. In that case I feel its a matter of the PIC taking the time to
become educated in the area of ops, wire avoidance, and keeping a high
degree of alertness.
Flying helicopters is a double edged sword......fun to fly at low
altitude, and closer to disaster at the same time.
Today as an example, my load truck had to position near the end of a
tall sprinkler and near a set of power lines along the road. I had to
make a careful approach parallel to the road between the sprinkler
arm/head and the powerlines. I had enough room to make a careful pedal
turn over the truck to avoid the lines. Certainly I was paying
attention, and certainly I knew it was tight. Its just a simple matter
of the kind of work we do on a daily basis. I'm glad I can pass along
some of this info to those who are interested.
Fly safe and if in doubt...DON'T !!!
Rocky
Jim Carriere wrote:
> wrote:
> > Anyone else besides me here ever hit a wire in a helicopter? I did it
>
> No, not yet anyway :) Came close one night to some hi tension lines
> across a river- the lines were just low enough to not have
> obstruction lights, and I was just high enough to miss them.
>
> > at night while crop dusting in California. Was a steel cable and all it
> > did was leave "chatter" marks in the paint and tore the end cap. Very
> > close call and we had to replace the blades (which were just about
> > timed out anyway).
> > I have a healthy respect for wires and fly in that environment quite a
> > bit so have some opinions and experience if anyone is interested.
>
> You probably have more time below 200' AGL than anybody on here.
> What do you think of powerline warning systems? I've heard of one
> that picks up the RF and then gives a proximity warning. Good, bad?
> False alarms, not enough warning, or maybe a pretty decent idea?

[Jim Carriere]

Fisherman wrote:
> Sounds like a really expensive idea to rig all of the poles and wires
> too.

No, it picks up the 60Hz.

[Jim Carriere]

wrote:
> Jim
> I'm not sure if the warnings will work or not. Non-powered lines for
> example? I question who is flying that low and for what purpose? In ag
<snip>

Hmm, good point. Guy wires too.

If you're flying that low for commercial operations, you should be
familiar with the area as you say. For military training, the same
applies. Military operations, there may be a few more things to
consider. For recreation, flying _that_ low is unnecessary risk.
Nothing new with any of this.

Well, I asked for some thoughts from an experienced person, you
replied, and your thoughts on it are pretty similar to mine. That
is, it might work, might not, keep it simple and be careful. Words
to live by. Thanks :)

[[email protected]]

Jim
Giving it some more thought while flying today. There is a very high
percentage of wire strikes that occurred when the pilot knew the wires
were there and hit them anyway! Not just talking about ag work either.
I can't recall where I got the stat but it was while researching wire
strikes for an article several years back for Ag Pilot magazine and it
was over 60%!!!!
Now that is food for thought!
Cheers
Rocky
Jim Carriere wrote:
> wrote:
> > Jim
> > I'm not sure if the warnings will work or not. Non-powered lines for
> > example? I question who is flying that low and for what purpose? In ag
> <snip>
>
> Hmm, good point. Guy wires too.
>
> If you're flying that low for commercial operations, you should be
> familiar with the area as you say. For military training, the same
> applies. Military operations, there may be a few more things to
> consider. For recreation, flying _that_ low is unnecessary risk.
> Nothing new with any of this.
>
> Well, I asked for some thoughts from an experienced person, you
> replied, and your thoughts on it are pretty similar to mine. That
> is, it might work, might not, keep it simple and be careful. Words
> to live by. Thanks :)