Officials say a helicopter inspecting power lines in northern Arkansas crashed today near the Norfork Dam, killing two people aboard.

Baxter County sheriff's deputies say the helicopter came down on the far side of Norfork Dam in the Overlook Estates area just before 9:30 am.

Several Sheriff's Deputies and Investigators responded to the area--the first one arriving near the crash site on the south side of the river--at approximately 9:39 a.m. Emergency medical first-responders and other officials were also dispatched.

The crash site was located at the bottom of a ravine near the Norfork Dam in an area accessible only by foot or all-terrain vehicle. The debris of the helicopter was on fire at the crash site, and two victims were discovered, both deceased.

The first victim, believed to be the pilot, was identified as James Dean Evertsen, 57, of West Plains, Missouri. The second victim was identified as Randall J. Arthur, 51, of Marshfield, Missouri--an employee of Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative.

Registration information showed the helicopter--a 1965 Hughes Rotocraft Model 269B--to be owned by Ozark Mountain Helicopters, LLC, of Wilmington, Delaware.

Casey Evertsen, a manager at Ozark Mountain Helicopters, says Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative of Marshfield, Missouri, hired the helicopter to inspect power lines.

P.J. Spaul, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, says the helicopter clipped transmission lines running from the dam either before or as it crashed.

Spaul says the crash cut the lines and sparked two power surges in generators at the Bull Shoals and Norfork power plants.

Spaul says workers are still inspecting their generators.

Salesville is about 10 miles southwest of Mountain Home.

FAA (web|news) spokesman Roland Herwig says the National Transportation Safety Board is expected to investigate the crash.

To see aerial video of the crash scene, click here.

Photo courtesy KY3 News