It was used by the United States Coast Guard as the HH-52A Seaguard primarily for air-sea rescue. The HH-52A used a boat hulled shaped fuselage, smaller but similar to the US Navy's SH-3 (Sikorsky S-61), and was employed aboard the larger Coast Guard cutters and icebreakers. The S-62 used a single 1,250 hp (930 kW) General Electric T58-GE-8 turboshaft engine, the same powerplant used on the larger twin-engined SH-3; and a 1,050 hp T58-GE-6 derated to 670 hp, moving the same main and tail rotor as S-55 Model, in the prototype. The turbine powered S-62 could carry more weight and fly faster than the H-19 (S-55). The aircraft was first conceived and designed to be amphibious so that flotation gear would not be required for over water flights, and rescues could be made by landing on the water. The fuselage is watertight for landings on water or snow. Two outrigger floats resist pitching and rolling on the water. Although the HH-52A looks very different from the Sikorsky H-19, it used many of the same components. Ansett-ANA operated a number of S-62A helicopters for oil rig support in Bass Strait. They took delivery of VH-AND, the aircraft pictured above, on 12 July 1967. It was written off when it crashed into Bass Strait on 24 August, 1967. Variants. S-62 Prototype. First flew on the 22nd of May 1958. S-62A Amphibious transport helicopter, powered by a General Electric CT58-110-1 turboshaft engine, with accommodation for up to 11 passengers. The S-62A was the first production version. S-62B One S-62 was fitted with the main rotor system of the S-58. S-62C Company designation of the HH-52A Seaguard. S-62J Produced under license in Japan by Mitsubishi.[1] HU2S-1G Original designation of the HH-52A Seaguard. Redesignated HH-52A in 1962. HH-52A Seaguard Search and rescue helicopter for the United States Coast Guard. 99 built including one transferred to Iceland. Specifications below are for the HH-52A Sea Guard variant. Sikorsky S-62 Sikorsky HH-52A
