It was years ago. I was young!!! And stupid!!! Always a bad combo.
I was on the Hughes 500d on a logging show in Canada. If you decide to leave the controls with the engine at ground idle, which we did as routine in those days you have to secure the pedals. The usual way is to flip one 180 degrees so that it acts as a stop. (the pedals are spring loaded to be neutral at 100%rpm and so will set full right pedal at ground idle.)
I got the bright idea of making a u bolt into a control lock to save time. I put lots of florescent tape on it to ensure i would not forget to remove it before flight.
apparently not enough tape.
Took off into the hover, start to rotate slowly to the right, look down at pedals...................Oh cr@p!!.
A very skillful (read lucky) landing in a confined area with no pedal control followed with no harm done.
I'd rather be lucky than good.