Wirestrike involving a Robinson Helicopter Co R22, VH-DAS, 2km W Ayr, QLD on 23 January 1994

During a clean-up spray run flown parallel to powerlines, the pilot inadvertently allowed the helicopter to drift to the left into the lines. The main rotor struck the wires and during an attempt by the pilot to turn away, the tail rotor also struck the wires. The tail rotor/gearbox was severed, causing the helicopter to enter an uncontrolled spin to ground impact. The clean-up run was from west to east, at an airspeed of about 40 kts. The wind was from the north-east at about 2 kts.