suffered engine failure
The San Antonio Police Department's Eagle police helicopter was forced to make a 'hard landing' this morning after suffering engine failure, 1200 WOAI news reports.
Officials say the chopper landed about midnight on the access road of Interstate 10 nearFresno on the near northwest side, forcing officials to briefly close the main lanes of the interstate.
Police Officer Matt Porter says the chopper was returning to its base at Stinson Field after tracking a stolen car.
"After they completed that they were on their way back to the airfield when an indicator came on in the helicopter indicating there might be possible engine failure," he said.
Offices on the scene say the chopper pilots performed what is called an 'auto rotation' to allow them to glide to a hard landing on the highway after the engine failed.
"Both pilots were uninjured, there was no damage to the aircraft, and there were no citizens or vehicles injured from the landing," he said.
No one was hurt, and the highway was quickly reopened.
