Shortly after 2pm, a Bell LongRanger helicopter, flown by a 37-year-old man, was conducting aerial observations of the Pappinbarra Valley for invasive weeds.

Police said that while undertaking the observations, the pilot sighted a power line with electrical wires, and felt a wire strike the front side of the helicopter.

A police spokesman said it appears that the helicopter flew into a power line which came into contact with the upper wire cutter on the helicopter, which cut the wire.  He said the wire came into contact with the left hand side of the helicopter, smashing the perspex window.

A passenger inside the chopper was hit in the face and shoulder with shattered perspex.  The helicopter landed without further incident.

Emergency services attended and the injured man, who had a cut to his left cheek and his left shoulder, was treated by ambulance staff at the scene, and did not need to be taken to hospital.