There is a big difference in having four vs. three bars. With four bars and a whole lot of luck one might be able to tell the story if one breaks. With three bars and one of them breaks I doubt one could
You could just find a piece of string and try the theory by hanging something from it in a four legged sling and then cut one sling at a time and see how the load shifts. That should clarify things.
Disclaimer : I am no engineer, just a heli-driver and hobby (car)mechanic, I will stand corrected
