A private helicopter dropped into Island Lake shortly after takeoff early this morning slightly injuring the pilot. Eric Francis Monson, 24, of Hermantown, was treated and released from a Duluth hospital after the crash that occurred just after m…

Written By: news@duluthnewstribune.com

A private helicopter dropped into Island Lake shortly after takeoff early this morning slightly injuring the pilot.

Eric Francis Monson, 24, of Hermantown, was treated and released from a Duluth hospital after the crash that occurred just after midnight about 200 feet from shore off Bear Island Road on the west side of the lake.

According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department, the helicopter suffered an undetermined mechanical problem shortly after lifting off from the beach along the lake. It sunk in about 15 feet of water.

The helicopter is registered to Lake Superior Helicopters, where Monson is chief pilot. He was the only person in the helicopter when it went down.

Monson and others were attending a gathering at the lake home of Michael Van Staagen where several people were flying remote-controlled airplanes. People at the gathering used a pontoon boat to immediately rescue Monson.

Neighbors said an insurance adjuster was at the scene this morning and that it wasn’t clear when or how the helicopter, a Robinson R44 Raven II, will be removed from the lake.

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/2301784-helicopter-crashes-island-lake-pilot-rescued-water