Narrative
A flight instructor reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice emergency procedures as part of routine intradepartmental training. The training was conducted in an open field owned by the Sheriff's Department. The instructor stated that the field was frequently used for flight training, and he had conducted training there approximately one week prior. Before landing, the instructor performed a high reconnaissance of the field and noted nothing unsuitable about the terrain. However, a ground survey was not performed prior to the training flights and landings in the field.
Circumstances
During the training, the instructor reduced the throttle to ground idle at an altitude of about 10 to 12 feet above ground level to simulate a total power loss. The pilot trainee was on the controls and landed the helicopter without any problems. After touchdown, the helicopter slid forward only a few feet before stopping abruptly. The skids had become entangled in approximately 18-inch-tall grass and imbedded vines, which caused unexpected friction. The instructor stated that the natural tendency to input aft cyclic to stop the aircraft from tipping over caused the main rotor blades to contact the tail boom.
Conclusion
The accident resulted from the helicopter's skids catching on vegetation, leading to a sudden stop and subsequent rotor strike. No further details were provided regarding injuries, damage, or other factors.