A Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter made a crash landing in a rice paddy in Miyagino Ward, Sendai, at around 10:10 a.m. Monday, the Defense Ministry said.
Two crew members — a pilot in his 40s and a maintenance engineer in his 30s — were safe, the ministry said.
The OH-6D helicopter had departed the GSDF's Kasuminome air field in Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai, at 9:44 a.m. for a test flight, officials said.
The helicopter's main rotor was bent and its tail rotor broke off in the crash landing, they said.
The cause of the accident was not immediately released. Officials said the helicopter had undergone regular maintenance.
A Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter crashed Feb. 12 on a mountain in Ebino, Miyazaki Prefecture, after leaving its base in neighboring Kagoshima Prefecture. Three crew members died in that accident. The crash site was not found until the next day.
On Feb. 17, a GSDF helicopter crash-landed in waters off the town of Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture. Its two crew members survived.