Bluesafari,
The Baltic Sea S76C+ accident factual findings were:
Due to blockage of C3 return port (by plasma flakes) the Servo Actuator came fully extended. The Control Stick came full aft and collective vent full (max) up position, right pedal vent full down.
The flight crew were able to recognize that it was an emergency situation, but could not identify what the emergency was and why the helicopter was responding the way it was.
The helicopter come unflyable but the crew tried to fight against stuck flight controls. During this 37 seconds the helicopter made 13 spirals to the right...
Finding 1.
A plastic cover for the engine power control switch had separated from pilot’s collective control handle.
Finding 2.
The rod (tube) under the cockpit floor that connected the pilot’s and the co-pilot’s cyclic controls was broken
Finding 3.
The cyclic control stick on the right side (pilot) was bent slightly forward near the floor.
I have heard more than 30 times together with the accident investigator the CVR recording of COPTERLINE 103.The crew was fighting 37 seconds against stuck flight controls.
Our crew was able to bent the cyclic control stick forward, broke the Rod Tube which is connecting pilot and co-pilot controls and the captain broke the plastic cover for pilot’s collective control handle when he was fighting against fully up standing collective.
It is possible and more likely that the Crew of Lagos S76C+ has broke this Control Rod end by the power what they had on hands and legs. The Rod tube and the Rod end should be fail safe but not designed for dying men's (the crew) adrenaline boosted fighting power.
Do not blame technicians or pilots!