PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 27.5; Flight Crew Total 2466; Flight Crew Type 27.5
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Object; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Human Factors; Airport; Weather
On final approach; the airplane was not descending normally due to slight thermal activity. I reduced power about 200 RPM and about that time my passenger asked what the stall warning light was. I looked at the light; then looked at the airspeed indicator which was 78 mph. I then turned my attention back to the runway and saw that I had descended too low. I immediately applied power. About that time I felt the left gear strike something but it did not seem to be serious. I aborted the landing and went around the pattern. On landing; the  aircraft pulled to the left but with right rudder I was able to keep it straight on the runway and taxi to my hangar. I went to the terminal to get my passengers wife and was told that I had hit a high tension wire. As I see it; the cause was several things. The thermal activity decreased at the time my attention was distracted and the high tension wires were 38 feet high; one block from the airport; approximately 1/10 mile. I will fix the distraction problem by not having any conversation during takeoff and landing. The high tension wires should be located underground or at least have aviation balls on them.
Reporter states that the distance from the airport perimeter fence to the wires in question; is one tenth of a mile as measured with an automobile odometer. The left main gear tire contacted the wire; causing damage to the left scissor.
PA28 pilot reports contacting power lines with the left main gear during approach to an uncontrolled airport; due to thermal activity and distraction. A go-around is initiated with the aircraft pulling to the left on the ensuing landing.