601:
In my experience - very few PPL's stay current with autos let alone EOL's.
An EOL for a private owner is dodgy financial territory.
Islandlad:
You may have a point. I couldn't possibly confirm the skid clearance but there is a slim possibility she landed on top of the bushes, the rotors were stopped and she then settled as the bushes gave way. It would answer my query about the blades being intact too.
A water landing - double edged sword in this particular instance. Better surface to land on by far - as it is flat and obstruction free, thus minimising the risk to life of any impact damage during the auto/EOL. BUT what happens then?
Without flot bags and with a cabin full of people, the cab is going to flip or sink very very quickly and some or all of the occupants could get trapped.
Hence - given the opportunity - current teaching in the dunker is to jettison doors just prior to impact (before the door frames buckle - jamming the door shut).
Hope this helps.