I was flying FPV. I didn’t see the thin HV line. Zap. Drone exploded. Line snapped. The entire neighborhood went dark for 6 hours. The utility company sent me a bill for $45,000 (repair crew + loss of revenue).
Key Takeaways
- Consequential Damages: You aren’t just paying for the wire. You are paying for the “Business Interruption” of the utility and potentially the businesses that lost power.
- Low Limits Kill: A $500,000 liability limit sounds like a lot, until you hit a transformer. Utility claims are massive. You want $1M minimum.
- “Gross Negligence”: If you were flying recklessly near known lines, the insurer might investigate. But generally, hitting a powerline is a covered “accident.”
- Fire Risk: A downed line starts fires. If that line ignited a wildfire, your $1M policy is gone in seconds.
The “Why” (The Trap): “Loss of Use”
The utility company charges for:
- Physical Damage: The wire and pole ($5,000).
- Loss of Use: The revenue they lost while the grid was down ($40,000).
Standard General Liability covers “Loss of Use of Tangible Property that is not physically injured.”
This is a standard covered peril, if your limits are high enough.
The Investigation: “I Called Them”
I asked about utility strikes.
1. SkyWatch
- Coverage: Covers Property Damage to the utility.
- Limit: I recommended increasing coverage to $2M or $5M for FPV pilots flying near infrastructure. The cost difference is only $20 per month.
2. Utility Claims Dept
- Reality: They are aggressive. They will send a bill immediately. They don’t care if you have insurance; they will lien your house if you don’t pay.
Comparison Table: Hitting the Grid
| Cost Item | Insurance Covers? | Notes |
| Wire Repair | Yes | Standard Property Damage |
| Crew Overtime | Yes | Part of repair cost |
| Lost Revenue (Grid) | Yes | Loss of Use |
| Drone Replacement | No | Need Hull coverage |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Call 911/Utility: Do not try to retrieve your drone. A downed line can kill you even if it looks dead. Report the outage immediately.
- Do Not Admit Fault (Publicly): Report to your insurer: “My aircraft made contact with a line.” Let them argue about visibility and negligence.
- Secure the Logs: Prove you weren’t dive-bombing.
- Notify Insurer of “High Severity” Claim: This needs to be escalated to a senior adjuster immediately to prevent the utility from suing.
FAQ
Q: Is the drone salvageable?
A: Usually fried by the voltage. And retrieving it is trespassing/dangerous. Write it off.
Q: Will this raise my rates?
A: Yes. Hitting a stationary object (powerline) is considered 100% at-fault pilot error.
[IMAGE: Graphic warning: “Stay 50ft Away from Powerlines – High Voltage Arc Risk.”]