The Sikorsky HH-52A SeaGuard was a United States Coast Guard amphibious helicopter developed to replace the HO4S-3G/HH-19G, after the Coast Guard evaluated the Sikorsky S-62A prototype N880 in 1959-60 and, impressed by its performance, redesignated it the HH-52A SeaGuard in 1962 and ordered 99 aircraft for short-range search and rescue. Equipped with a turbine engine, it could land on water for rescue operations, with a sealed and reinforced fuselage for landings on water or deep snow and out-rigger floats to prevent roll and pitch while touching down or resting on water. A non-pilot crewman operated a hoist and rescue basket to lift injured survivors to safety. Operated from 1963-89 at air stations across the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and the North and South Polar regions, and also employed or based aboard larger cutters and icebreakers, the 99 SeaGuards logged 1 million flight hours and were credited with saving over 15,000 lives, becoming the Coast Guard's air-sea rescue workhorse and making rotary-wing aviation the backbone of United States Coast Guard aviation.