Originally Posted by
Mitchaa
I have a sneaky suspicion that this one is down to pilot error as there was certainly no catastrophic failure of the gearbox. Double engine failure just does not happen (Unless it ran out of fuel) so kind of rules that one out too. It never lost its tail, passengers would have reported a spin, main blade failure would have been violent. Leaves a flight control restriction I guess.
Strange deductions.
Gearbox failures can be of many types. It doesn't necessarily mean the aircraft instantly becomes a flying brick. The pilot may well have sufficient time to ditch.
Double engine failure could well happen with fuel starvation to both engines. Unlikely, but can not be ruled out with possible fuel supply problem to both engines.
Loss of tail rotor at speed does not result in a spin until the aircraft slows to below around 40 knots. A Bristow Tiger had just such a loss of tail rotor in the 80's and only lost control on final approach at Aberdeen when the speed came below around 40 knots.
So there are still many possibilities.