FBW - not that TC needs any help from me, but that particular machine was spotted not too far before the incident concerned by a very experienced examiner who happened to be in Dunsfold at the same time, who took photos of the large cracks in the rotor blades, the clumsy wiring that held the cowlings and stabiliser together etc etc. On being asked where to get fuel, said examiner asked where the helicopter had come from, because surely fuel could be obtained at the same place on the way back.
It hadn't stopped, but had come all the way from Honiston with five hefty people on board. The comment was "You don't know anything about Gazelles, mate, they will haul anything you throw at them".
Not surprising there were cracks in the blades, then (ones that you could put several matchsticks in at once). This kind of mindest is not welcome in aviation.
Phil