Accident to the McDonnell Douglas 369D registered F-GJLX on 16/10/2019 at Blancey (Côte-d'Or)
Collision avec une ligne électrique lors d’un vol de surveillance de ligne, atterrissage de précaution
During the third rotation of the day to inspect powerlines of a MV grid, the crew of the Hughes 500 struck and cut through two cables of a HV powerline running perpendicular to their path. The navigation software used by the system operator contained the HV line but the operator had not set the screen zoom parameters to allow him to see it and give the pilot prior warning. In addition, given the environment and layout of the HV powerline poles, it was difficult for the pilot to detect the powerline.
The pilot managed to maintain control of the helicopter and carried out a precautionary landing in a field situated 200 m straight ahead, close to a country road.