Helicopter crash in western Iowa kills 2 Minnesotans

The aircraft hit a power line before it went down, authorities said.

April 2, 2020 at 2:45AM

A helicopter crashed in western Iowa, and two people from Minnesota aboard were killed, authorities said.

The aircraft went down about 4:25 p.m. Tuesday southeast of Audubon, according to the Audubon County Sheriff's Office.

It is owned and registered to Twin Cities-based Minnesota Helicopters Inc. and was leased out to a different company at the time it went down, said Minnesota Helicopters general manager Chris Webb. He declined to disclose who leased the aircraft.

The Robinson R44 rotorcraft helicopter hit a power line before it crashed and caught fire in a rural area near 240th Street and Robin Avenue, the Sheriff's Office said.

The victims' identities were being withheld pending notification of family.

Flames started a small grass fire, which responding fire personnel extinguished.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was joined by local and state officials in investigating the crash.

about the writer

about the writer

Paul Walsh

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Paul Walsh is a general assignment reporter at the Minnesota Star Tribune. He wants your news tips, especially in and near Minnesota.

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