hillberg, if you 'slowed down' as recovery from mast rocking, what'd be your collective input, just BTW? Since the FAA letter regarding the phenomena, most of it
covered here. and
R44 Mast rocking aka 'Chugging'
Nothing indicates it couldn't have been low G/mast bumping.
The 'hoarse noise' could be just blade slap noise.
Very sad news indeed. I fly Robinsons and wish there weren't such issues with the design, as all of us, I guess.
EDIT: The 'hoarse noise' could correspond with sudden spar/skin debonding.