Agnetta said he is hoping the building will undergo repairs. Practices at the boathouse were scheduled to begin next week, he said.

If the boats can be extracted from the building (which may be difficult because of the damages) the boathouse's docks could still be used this season. Otherwise, the group may ask the MIT team for permission to tie the boats at their headquarters, team member Emily R. Patek '97 said yesterday.

"We have a good chance to qualify for nationals, and we hope things will turn out all right," Agnetta said.

The building has frequently served as the site of the North American Sailing Championships, according to Harvard's Sports Information Office.

In addition, team members said they would hold a team meeting to decide whether to name a boat in honor of the four deceased helicopter passengers.

"Above all, we want to be sensitive to the families," Agnetta said.

Cleanup Considerations

One concern of both university officials and sailing team members is paying for the cleanup costs to the damaged boathouse.

Boats stored in the building, which was constructed in 1972 with money raised by the Friends of Harvard Sailing, are each worth more than $5,000. Estimates on repairing structural damage could run close to $20 thousand, Horn said.

The Harvard-owned building is covered by university insurance policies, Horn said.

State police would only be liable for damage if negligence by the pilot could be proved, said University Attorney Allan A. Ryan, Jr.

"One would have to show they failed to use reasonable care. From everything I've seen, it doesn't look like that is the case," he said. Dueling Crash Theories

Engine Failure

Engine failure results from a loss of power to the engines. In a process called "autorotation," the pilot changes the pitch of the blades and forces air through them. This keeps the craft from plummeting to the ground.

The pilot does not lose control of the helicopter, and he often lands gently. Passengers often walk away from the landing site.

Transmission Failure

Transmission failure results when parts of the transmission flake off and clog the plane's engine, preventing the pilot from keeping the blades running. The plane spirals out of control and crashes to the ground.

Eyewitnesses and experts believe the downed helicopter's blades were not turning when it crashed Wednesday.