Originally Posted by
Nubian
That's probably why such a manoeuvre is prohibited in this aircraft in the first place......
Not a control malfunction, as this WILL happen to a 350 if the rotordisc is being loaded with enough G. It is flying the aircraft outside it's approved envelope, but it will not be the first time it has been done with an accident as a result either. If the report is correct about flying low and then a loop, I'd say a good yank in the cyclic when coming around the loop to recover realising being too low, would leave you with NO escape and hitting the ground as a result.....
Yes yes, many (most?) of us are very aware of the “jack stall” characteristic of the AS350 model. Almost certainly including the pilot that died.
My suggestion was more along the lines of a servo breaking/becoming detached, causing a manovour that resembled a loop to an unknowledgable bystander.
Again; Pure conjecture.