Sandwich, Massachusetts – April 15, 1980

     On April 15, 1980, a U.S. Coast Guard H-52 helicopter was on a night training flight when a bird was sucked into the engine causing a mechanical malfunction.  As the aircraft was going down, the pilot began an “auto rotation” maneuver.  The helicopter took down some power lines and stuck a tree when it crashed between to residential homes.  There was no fire, and all four crewmen escaped without injury.  Nobody on the ground was injured.  The pilot was credited for his skill in handling the stricken aircraft during the emergency.   

     Source:

     Westerly Sun, (R.I.), “Pilot Places Doomed Copter Between Homes”, April 16, 1980, page 7.