26th of April 2021, Wire Strike, Blog #701
- V2Aviation
- Apr 28
- 2 min read
A 2019-built Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX was operating a Part 91 General Aviation - Executive/Corporate just over 4 years ago today. On board the float-equipped aircraft were two pilots and three passengers, they had departed Perkasie-Pennridge Airport (PA, USA) and had Islip-Long Island MacArthur Airport (NY, USA) as its destination, where the passengers were to attend a business meeting.
During the flight, conditions worsened with the cloud base lowering and turbulence increasing. To remain VFR (the flight was operating under Visual Flight Rules) the pilot elected to descend to a lower altitude following the Susquehanna River. At times the altitude was so low that the flight was operating below the surrounding trees and terrain. At times the pilots remarked they were concerned about hitting powerlines and had to manoeuvre to prevent hitting powerlines and at one point even a bridge.
At one point during the flight while following a sharp bend in the river while looking for a place to conduct a touch-and-go landing, the airplane’s right wing struck a power line. (The pilot stated that he planned on performing a touch-and-go landing on the river to entertain the passengers)
The wire strike caused substantial damage to the right wing and aileron, though the damage did not prohibit the airplane from being able to fly, the pilot characterized that the airplane felt out of trim and “a little heavier on one side.” As the flight continued towards their destination a subsequent conversation ensued between the pilot and the passengers, asking if the meeting could be missed and if they should return to their departure airport, about 45 minutes away. It was decided to return to their departure airport where the aircraft made an uneventful landing.
The (NTSB) National Transportation Safety Board investigated the wire strike and interviewed those involved, these interviews revealed the following;
The pilot elected not to perform a precautionary landing at a nearby airport nor declare an emergency because the airplane appeared to be performing well.
The operator stated no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane contributed to the accident.
The operator did not have any guidance or policies relating to low-altitude manoeuvring with passengers onboard.
The NTSB concluded that the probable causes of the wire strike were;
"The pilot’s improper decision to conduct a low altitude
flight and his failure to see and avoid powerlines."
The NTSB identified the operator’s lack of safety guidance or a safety policy for low-altitude operations as a contributing factor. The NTSB Aviation Investigation Final Report which served as the source for this blog can be accessed by clicking on the .pdf file below.
In 2010 the FAA issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO 10015) advising operators flying aircraft lower than 1000 ft or less to be aware of the wire hazards in their areas of operation. This SAFO can be accessed by clicking here.
Comments