THE FORE AND AFT CYCLIC CONTROL LINKAGE TUBE BECAME DISCONNECTED IN FLIGHT. AN EMERGENCY DESCENT, USING COLLECTIVE "S" TURNS TO REDUCE AIRSPEED WAS PERFORMED. THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING THE FORCED LANDING TO CUSHION THE FALL. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CYCLIC PIVOT BOLT WAS MISSING P/N AN-174-15.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

Contributing Factors

OBJECT..TREE(S)

Contributing Factors

MANEUVER..INTENTIONAL..PILOT IN COMMAND

Contributing Factors

TERRAIN CONDITION..GROUND

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