A helicopter made a forced landing south of Moonlight Beach in Encinitas Wednesday morning, sheriff's deputies said.
The pilots in the Robinson R22 were practicing an auto-rotation maneuver when they reported a problem with a tail rotor, Encinitas lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles said. The tail of the chopper broke during the landing.
A surfer in the water said he heard some kind of engine shutoff. The chopper rocked back and forth before making an emergency landing on the beach.
The helicopter landed about 5 feet away from the water line, news helicopter video showed.
The pilots had taken off this morning at Palomar Airport, lifeguards said.
No one was injured.
The pilots in the Robinson R22 were practicing an auto-rotation maneuver when they reported a problem with a tail rotor, Encinitas lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles said. The tail of the chopper broke during the landing.
A surfer in the water said he heard some kind of engine shutoff. The chopper rocked back and forth before making an emergency landing on the beach.
The helicopter landed about 5 feet away from the water line, news helicopter video showed.
The pilots had taken off this morning at Palomar Airport, lifeguards said.
No one was injured.