The Virginian-Pilot 
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, July 17, 1996              TAG: 9607170432
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A10  EDITION: FINAL 
DATELINE: TOKYO                             LENGTH:   17 lines

NAVY HELICOPTER FORCED TO LAND ON SCHOOL GROUNDS

A U.S. Navy helicopter made an emergency landing Tuesday on a school playground in central Japan.

No casualties or damage were reported in the incident, which U.S. Navy spokesman John Nylander attributed to mechanical trouble.

Nylander said the SH-60 anti-submarine helicopter lost radio contact with the base before landing at the school. The playground was empty as students and teachers were having lunch inside.

KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT HELICOPTER ACCIDENT MILITARY by CNB