Incident Overview
During a routine spraying operation over an onion field, the pilot noticed a vibration in the helicopter. This was shortly followed by a loud noise and severe shaking of the aircraft. In response, the pilot initiated a forced landing procedure.
Flight Control Difficulties
Upon attempting the forced landing, the pilot found that the helicopter was unresponsive to both cyclic and collective control inputs. This lack of response compromised the pilot's ability to control the descent and touchdown.
Touchdown and Subsequent Damage
As the helicopter touched down, the right skid dug into the ground and subsequently collapsed. Following the collapse, the main rotor blades struck the ground, resulting in additional damage to the aircraft.
Post-Accident Inspection Findings
A thorough post-accident inspection was conducted. The examination revealed that the bolt, which connects the drive link to the collective scissors arm, was missing. This missing component is a critical part of the control system.