SA Power Networks has issued an urgent warning about the use of agricultural drones around powerlines, after a large drone crashed and dropped a high voltage line to the ground at Wasleys, east of Mallala.
The incident is the first of its kind to have occurred in South Australia.
Photo courtesy Yorke Peninsula Country Times.
A contractor was using the drone to spray on the property on Wednesday, June 10, when it hit the powerline, crashing the drone and causing an outage which affected 58 customers for more than three and a half hours.
Drones are increasingly being used to carry out agricultural operations such as crop monitoring and spraying, livestock management and land surveying. Unlike other seasonal activities on farming land which might impact powerlines and poles, drones are used year-round.
SA Power Networks has warned any equipment, including a drone, striking live power infrastructure could have significant consequences including serious harm to the equipment operator or the ignition of fires.
Before this incident, there had already been 17 farm safety incidents around power infrastructure across South Australia in 2026, with most of those involving farm machinery hitting power poles.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority requires specialised training and flight authorisations for complex farming operations using drones, including spraying, which includes safety rules around staying clear of aerial hazards such as powerlines.
To see all powerlines and pole locations on a property, farmers and contractors can visit the interactive Look up and Live and plan for safety map, or download the free Look up and Live mobile app.
This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 16 June 2026.
