Daniel
Thanks for the explanation, which makes sense. I have no experience of this end of aircraft ownership - my machines are all UK-registered, Civil construction, and used for passenger transport hence my approac is that "I touch nothing!" - always have the maintenance crew tighten / loosen / bend / unbend, etc.
I knew that maintenance was less stringent for some classes of small private fixed-wing (Light Aircraft Association rules) but had always understood Helicopter maintenance to be the province of skilled professionals here in the UK. Certainly it seemed to my untutored eye that both the pilot and the maintenance organisations had some questions to answer, based on that report. Being dead, the Pilot cannot now answer for his errors in operating the Gazel.
Regards
John