Background

On May 14, 1958 Sikorsky unveiled for its first flight the S-62 – the forerunner of an entirely new generation of production turbocopters. The S-62 was developed with Company funding on speculation with no firm orders or deposits on hand. The S-62 was the world’s first true amphibious helicopter. Equipped with a flying boat hull and powered by a single gas turbine engine (CT58-110-1 (1050 shaft horsepower (SHP) derated to 670 SHP) the S-62 operates from land, water, snow, ice, mud, swamp, and tundra. The FAA Type Certificate was issued on June 30, 1960. It was the first type to pass the new stringent regulations introduced by the FAA to govern the operation of commercial passenger carrying helicopters.

The Sikorsky model S-62 was designed using the model S-55 dynamic components. The S-55 main transmission was redesigned to reduce the rpm of the T-58-GE-8 engine to an acceptable speed. The S-55 main rotor head, main rotor blades, intermediate gearbox, tail gearbox, and tail rotor head and blades were utilized on the S-62 helicopter. This made the S-62 attractive to owners of S-55 helicopters who already had an inventory of S-55 components. It was the first FAA Certified helicopter in history to fly from the start with proven mechanical components. The S-62 entered service with extended Time Between Overhaul (TBO) intervals based on the 2 million flight hours of the S-55 instead of starting from scratch.

The First S-62 was delivered to Petroleum Helicopters,Lafayette, La., on July 23, 1960 San Francisco Oakland Helicopter Airways purchased 2 S-62A helicopters to gain experience with turbine helicopters while waiting for the S-61 helicopters which are much larger and were on order. The first twenty S-62A helicopters were sold to Commercial/International Customers

The S-62 was heavily marketed to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard was operating a Fleet of HH-19G (S-55) helicopters at the time and the S-62 was a logical follow-on helicopter with its amphibious capabilities and a Gas Turbine engine. To facilitate the decision Sikorsky agreed to fund a Coast Guard test of the new helicopter. LCDR Frank Shelly USCG, a graduate of the Navy Test Pilot School, was selected as the Project Pilot. The testing was conducted at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Md. LCDR Shelly worked closely with Sikorsky in the initial and test phases of the HH-52A. He designed and set up the test program. It consisted of Coast Guard operational requirements, the verification of Sikorsky’s performance claims, and anticipated maintenance requirements. The helicopter performed well and the Coast Guard signed on. Its new aircraft was named the Seaguard.

The Coast Guard HH-52A (S-62C) differed from the Commercial S-62A in that a three channel (Pitch, Roll, and Yaw but No Altitude Hold) Automatic Stabilization Equipment (ASE) was installed similar to the system installed in the Navy SH-3A (S-61). An upgraded engine was installed (T58-GE-8, 1250 SHP derated to 730 SHP), the same engine used on the Navy SH-3A helicopter.Other Coast Guard additions included a hydraulic rescue hoist, rescue basket, and a sea rescue platform which allows recovery of victims on the water by sliding them into the cabin

Configuration Features

The first of 99 Coast Guard HH-52A helicopters was delivered on January 15, 1963 and the last delivered on January 17, 1969. During 25 years in Coast Guard service, the HH-52A rescued over 15,000 persons, giving it the honor of rescuing more persons than any other helicopter model in the world at that time

Configuration Features

The configuration features of the S-62 helicopter include a boat hull allowing water landings in an emergency or to recover helpless victims from the water. It also featured a gas turbine engine which was considerably lighter than the piston engine utilized in the S-55 helicopter.

General Arrangement Drawing (3 View)