The pilot of a small helicopter landed the aircraft on Lake Marion in Lakeville after developing engine trouble this morning. According to
Dakota County Sheriff Dave Bellows, the aircraft owned by Scotts Helicopter of Le Sueur, Minnesota, was on contract with the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District at the time of the accident.
The pilot, Kevin Rossan, 35-years-old of Michigan, was spraying on wetlands adjacent to Lake Marion when he developed engine trouble. The aircraft, a Bell 47, was estimated to be 50 feet in the air at the time the engine started to falter. Roassan flew the aircraft from his location over Lake Marion a distance of approximately one-eight mile and set it down in 12 to 15 feet of water on the north side of the lake.
Rossan injured his back in the accident and was assisted from the aircraft by individuals on the lake. He was transported to the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis with a back injury. The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, along with Lakeville Police and Fire Departments, responded to the scene.
The accident remains under investigation by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board).