If a retreating (metal) blade strikes very heavy lumber, the tendency of the transmission is to fail in the forward direction (with counter-clockwise rotor rotation,) The opposite is true when an advancing blade strikes a heavy obstacle, including the ground.
There's food for thought right there. Even if you get down to a survivable drop, you've always got to consider the Tranny coming through the back of the canopy to struff you. I suppose the same applies when settling into water - roll over to the right so the advancing blade stops first.
Heli-Ice.. Mass, Maine and New Hamps are in the three most wooded States in the US.. Translift and I are often over those woods for most of our time in the air.