A helicopter crash in western Iowa killed two people from Minnesota, authorities said.

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

The 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 victim's identities were being withheld pending notification of family.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records show the helicopter is registered to an address in Washington, D.C.

The flames also started a small grass fire, which responding fire personnel extinguished.

The FAA was joined by local and state officials in investigating the crash.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

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