What happened
On January 10, 2005, a Japan Coast Guard Sikorsky S-76C, registration JA6903, was conducting rescue hoist training near Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture. The aircraft was hovering approximately 80 feet above the deck of the Japan Coast Guard ship "Yahiko" to practice hoisting personnel. During the maneuver, the aircraft's No.1 engine failed, causing a sudden loss of power and altitude.
As the aircraft struggled to maintain stability, the crew severed the hoist cable to allow for an emergency maneuver. However, the pilot was unable to gain sufficient airspeed to fly away from the vessel. The aircraft subsequently struck the ship's bulwark, causing parts of the tail rotor and elevator to break off, before ditching in the sea approximately 30 meters from the ship. Upon hitting the water, the aircraft rolled onto its side and capsized. Of the six crew members on board, one sustained serious injuries and another sustained minor injuries.