Apache cuts powerline in Germany
 

Near Windelsbach in Germany a Apache ran in a powerline. It landed with quite a bit of damage nearby. Apparently its a training area for the US-Army and they quite often fly under the power line. This time it was too close.
Abendzeitung

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b5ca62eca1.jpg

Really. What's your source for that comment?

One, maybe two wires and it depends of the speed and angle at time of impact. Looks like 4 wires on that structure and they don't look like telephone wire sizes.

JD

The German report says it was six wires they cut and as you see it was a power line.
By the way - it also says there was no power cut to anybody / any facility as other systems jumped right in!

After reading the report again it seems the helicopter "only" hit the top line and that let the mast collapse which then ripped the six power lines.

Well, the article says, it hit a heavy steel cable. On the picture you see that the top cable is still under tension and therefore probably not broken. Anyway, top cables today - well here where I life - are data and ground cables and not that heavy. I don't think it is strong enough to pull a mast down. On the other hand, the six high voltage cables - mostly aluminium with a steel core - are all at the same level. How could he have cut all of them in a row and still be able to land the ship? The damage on the ship isn't extensive.

Flying Under Power Lines
 

FWIW, returning from a patrol mission along the West German/Czechoslovakian border with the U.S. Army in the late 1980s, we took some time for the accompanying AH-1 to do a series of under-the-wires crossings. My impression was that it was box checking for a proficiency requirement. No lines visible in this picture, but it was during that activity, IIRC.

https://live.staticflickr.com/1924/4...0543d6d0_c.jpg
Bell AH-1F Cobra by Mark Carlisle, on Flickr

In the 1980s it was classed as a routine exercise. RAF crews were required to practice under-wires crossings at least once a month. It wasn't done at cruise speed though!