20000907032859I

(-23)While conducting an FAR part 135.293 VFR helicopter competency check the pilot was asked to simulate a left stuck pedal tail rotor failure. The pilot selected a landing site he though was more suitable for the landing than the landing site they had been using. A shallow approach to the landing area was initiated with the a/c yawed left. The pilot surmised that the left stuck pedal was probably adequate to be able to bring the a/c to a hover. The pilot added power to level off at about one foot skid height and slowed the a/c. as the a/c straightened out in the direction of flight, the pilot instinctively reduced the collective and touched down at a very slow ground speed. Teh skids sunk into the soft sand and teh a/c rocked forward, stopped, and rocked back to rest on the skids. Minor damage to the a/c resulted. The pilots vast experience was evident in that when the a/c rocked forward he did not pull aft on the cyclic which could have caused the main rotor to strike the tail boom and cause further, more exrensive, damage. The pilot then shutdown the a/c for inspection which also showed good judgement. The pilot noted the following lessons to be learned from this flight: 1) although both the pilot and the check pilot believed the manuever would terminate at a hover he, the pilot, instinctively set the a/c down when the nose passed through the 12 o'clock position in relation to it's flight path. This would have been the proper action to take had this been an actual emergency situation. 2) he, the pilot, changed the location of the alnding zone without doing a n inspection of the new landing site prior to simulating this manuever. 3) when simulating system malfunctions verbally the expected outcome of the manuever between the pilots. 4) locate a desirable and appropriate area to conduct simulated emergenciesthe pilot was counselled. No further action required.