Seaplane or Amphibian
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Maintenance Powerplant; Maintenance Airframe
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 14500; Flight Crew Type 400
Inflight Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
We were flying a [seaplane] in Napa County; California into Lake Berryessa. We were practicing confined area landings at the north end of the lake that I had used many times before; as recent as two months prior. On our approach; that looked normal to me; as I had done many times before; suddenly wires appeared. [We] pulled up and added power. We cut the top wire with the prop. The aircraft flew normal; all controls worked normal. We then landed. To our amazement; only the prop had small nicks. I am a [certified] mechanic. I filed and dressed the nicks; determined the aircraft to airworthy and flew back to base. A few days later [the other pilot] returned to the area [and looked more closely] at the wires and poles. [Recently] a new pole [had been placed] on the top of the hill; the old pole is down the hill and half again shorter than the new pole. The old power lines were at or below the trees. The location of the new pole put the lines way above the trees. I feel that these new wires should be marked with balls [to make them more visible]. Also; in the future I [will perform] a more diligent search of the approach. I now know things can change! It has been a wake up call; as we were very lucky!
The pilot reiterated that he had performed this approach many times in the past and had become very comfortable with it. He commented that he was quite shaken up by this event and now performs research prior to any lake approach to make himself more aware of any changes. This research is comprised of on-line search as well as overflight of the area; prior to any low level flight. He added that after returning home; he removed the 'dressed' propeller and sent it to a shop for evaluation; and it was determined to be airworthy. He highly recommended that the wires be marked with balls to prevent other pilots from contacting them with a less successful outcome.
After initial landings on a river and lake in various conditions; we positioned to the north of Lake Berryessa to practice confined area landings over an obstacle. We chose to approach from the north through a small valley/ravine and land shortly after the shoreline. [The other pilot] had used this particular place numerous times. There are two little valleys/ravines leading down to the little bay; which joined to become one about a mile before our touchdown area. Obstacles were some trees on final approach. We did one landing and decided to do another one. Suddenly I saw three white wires appear right in front of the aircraft; at an altitude of about 200 FT above the lake surface (1/4 mile before touchdown). Out of impulse I added power and pulled up; but could not avoid hitting (at least one) of the wires. I aborted the landing; stabilized the airplane; determined that all controls and engine worked fine. We decided to land on a calm area on the lake; and checked the aircraft for damage.There was minor damage to the leading edge of the propeller; which [the other pilot] (A&P mechanic rated) dressed out. We determined the aircraft safe to fly back to base. A visit to the site by road two days later revealed that the cables have recently been put on new poles and significantly raised over the previous location. This is why we were not aware of the cables being at that height.
Two pilots in a seaplane encountered new wires across a familiar approach to a lake. When the wires were seen; they initiated a climb but could not avoid hitting them. After a successful landing; they observed only minor nicks to the propeller blades. One pilot was a certified mechanic and dressed the nicks prior to returning to the airport of origin.