Piper PA18 pilot strikes a wire during an observation mission and damages the propeller.

Attributes
ACN	702861
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 200 agl bound upper : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	other
Make Model Name	PA-18/19 Super Cub
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	702861
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While flying a mission; I cut a wire that was strung across the river. This mission requires me to fly low and slow along/over the rivers. I had flown this section of the river 3 times before and felt that it was safe to descend. We were missing 4 fish on our first pass wbound; so I flew low on our eastbound pass. When I hit the wire on the spinner of the propeller; it snapped and placed 2 nicks in the propeller. That is all of the damage. The wire was replaced by the power company later. They told me that it was a 'common neutral' wire. Fortunately for me it was small and old copper wire. I never saw it. I will fly at a higher altitude from now on. That really gets your attention.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER PA18 PLT STRIKES A WIRE DURING AN OBSERVATION MISSION AND DAMAGES THE PROP.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING A MISSION; I CUT A WIRE THAT WAS STRUNG ACROSS THE RIVER. THIS MISSION REQUIRES ME TO FLY LOW AND SLOW ALONG/OVER THE RIVERS. I HAD FLOWN THIS SECTION OF THE RIVER 3 TIMES BEFORE AND FELT THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DSND. WE WERE MISSING 4 FISH ON OUR FIRST PASS WBOUND; SO I FLEW LOW ON OUR EBOUND PASS. WHEN I HIT THE WIRE ON THE SPINNER OF THE PROP; IT SNAPPED AND PLACED 2 NICKS IN THE PROP. THAT IS ALL OF THE DAMAGE. THE WIRE WAS REPLACED BY THE PWR COMPANY LATER. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A 'COMMON NEUTRAL' WIRE. FORTUNATELY FOR ME IT WAS SMALL AND OLD COPPER WIRE. I NEVER SAW IT. I WILL FLY AT A HIGHER ALT FROM NOW ON. THAT REALLY GETS YOUR ATTN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.