As far as I remember, the procedure calls for not feathering to maintain complete, positive control all the way to touchdown. Furthermore, the blades are composite and are designed to shatter in exactly the way they did. Also, the gear, with their tires in the retracted position, allow for contact of the tire on all three gear. There are no wheel well doors and the tires protrude slightly below the fuselage. Never confirmed directly from a Raytheon rep, but was taught as such by my instructors at FSI in Wichita. Notice no sparks under the airplane???
All of this was a long time ago and is slightly ¨foggy¨, but I believe this is as textbook as it gets.
Saludos,
SEQU