The helicopter was being used to conduct basic helicopter
training at Jandakot. There was an accumulation of raindrops on the
helicopter's canopy due to showers that had recently passed through
the area. The instructor reported that both he and the student were
getting hot from prolonged hovering and that he decided that a
short flight was needed to cool the cockpit. The instructor took
control of the helicopter from the student and transitioned into
forward flight, climbing at about 35 kts to approximately 50 ft
before commencing a continuous left turn to return to the hover.
The instructor reported that while he was looking out to his left
at the area where he intended arriving, he realised that the
helicopter was too low to the ground. The helicopter's left skid
hit the ground then the helicopter rolled right and the main rotor
blades hit the ground. The helicopter then cartwheeled two or three
times before skidding and coming to rest on its right side. The
fuel tanks ruptured and the helicopter caught fire. Just after both
pilots escaped through the front of the shattered canopy, the
wreckage exploded. The student sustained minor injuries while the
instructor suffered burns to his right arm and head. The pilots
were not wearing helmets. The pilots reported that the helicopter
was operating normally before it hit the ground. The investigation
could not determine if the raindrops that had accumulated on the
canopy had affected the instructor's visual perception.