Helicopter spraying crops hits power line, crashes

Most of southern Grant County loses power, officials say

TOWN OF HARRISON, Wis. — A helicopter spraying crops crashed near Lancaster on Wednesday morning when one of its blades hit a power line, officials said.

Officials with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office said the pilot, Dale Eilo, 54, of Pleasant Prairie, survived the crash that happened just before 11:30 a.m.

The helicopter was spraying a soybean field near Lancaster when one of the blades caught a power line, deputies said. The helicopter landed upright, but then flipped over.

The helicopter belongs to Back 9 Aerial LLC, out of Elkhorn.

Eilo was properly restrained and wearing a helmet. He was treated for minor injuries at the scene. The helicopter was totaled.

A good part of southern Grant County lost power, and some of them were still without power at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The crash will be investigated by the FAA.