Incident Overview
A commercial airplane pilot, who was also pursuing a helicopter rating, was conducting practice maneuvers in a helicopter. The pilot was performing a 'quick stop' maneuver, a procedure typically used to rapidly decelerate the aircraft. According to the pilot's report, the maneuver was initiated at an altitude of 20 feet above ground level (AGL).
Maneuver Execution
During the quick stop, the pilot made several adjustments to both the cyclic and the collective controls in an effort to maintain rotor RPM and altitude. Despite these inputs, the helicopter began to descend. As the aircraft descended, the tail rotor made contact with the ground.
Aftermath and Landing
Following the tail rotor ground strike, the pilot reported a loss of directional control. In response, the pilot reduced the collective pitch and executed a hard landing on the grass area adjacent to the runway. The incident concluded with the helicopter coming to rest on the grass. No further details regarding the aircraft model, registration, or injuries were provided in the source.