Incident Summary
A flight instructor was conducting a training session demonstrating a simulated engine failure during takeoff. The maneuver was initiated from a 4-foot hover at an airspeed of about 15 knots. As the helicopter was passing through translational lift, the instructor rolled the power to ground idle.
Sequence of Events
The instructor performed a running landing. Shortly after ground contact, his left foot slipped off the rudder pedal. Subsequently, the helicopter's left skid dug into the ground, causing the helicopter to roll to the left and come to rest on its side.
Instructor's Observation
The flight instructor stated that he believed the helicopter had run over a rut during the running landing, which caused his foot to come off the rudder pedal.