20210730019069A

On July 30, 2021 at approximately 1230 central daylight time (CDT) a Robinson R66 helicopter was substantially damaged due to impact with terrain after contacting high tension power lines. At 0730 CDT the pilot checked weather and departed for an expected 9 hour day of part 137 spraying operations. Weather conditions were marginal VFR and there was a 30 minute delay for light rain in the operations area at approximately 1100 CDT. The helicopter was reloaded and the pilot flew approximately 10 minutes to his next target field located in Merry Nebraska. The pilot reported making two reconnaissance passes, and noted high tension power lines on the south border of the field. On his first application pass, the pilot initiated a climb to clear a hill in the field. As he crested the hill he noted the power lines were directly in his path. The pilot states he was unable to climb quickly enough to clear the power lines, and contacted them with his landing gear. The aircraft continued in a forward decent impacting the ground in an adjacent cornfield, coming to rest on the copilot side. The ground crew of a different operator heard the event and radioed their pilot who located and reported the accident.