Incident Overview
A helicopter engaged in water operations experienced an incident when the aircraft began drifting south towards an embankment. The passenger noted the drift and announced it over the intercom. In response, the dual student pilot lifted the helicopter to a hover. During the hover, the tail rotor contacted the embankment, resulting in a loss of directional control.
Immediate Actions
After the tail rotor strike, the Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) took control of the helicopter. The CFI executed an autorotative landing to the water, which was described as uneventful.
Background
Before the flight, the helicopter-rated student had informed the CFI that he had no experience operating a helicopter equipped with floats. No other details regarding the flight or aircraft were provided in the source.