On that 101 they would have had No1 engine in Accessory drive and full flight control hydraulics available before the AFCS check or rotor start. The FRCs do not state that the AFCS check is 'before flight only', they are after No1 starting and before any rotor start, there is no implication they can be skipped. The flight displays have a real time indication of control positions to the pilot so no need to rely on 'feel' either, so no excuses just bad airmanship.
I understand that one of the pilots had flown the aircraft from the UK so hardly unfamiliar, I am sure that LH would not have 'signed him off' as competent if the training pilots felt otherwise.
DM