WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PLT HEARD A CLANKING NOISE BEHIND HIM WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A SEVERE VIBRATION OF THE FLT CONTROLS. HE INITIATED AN AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT FROM 3000 FT. HE SAID THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO ROLL LEFT, THEN RIGHTED ITSELF. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN WITH A FORWARD SPEED OF ABOUT 50 MPH, THEN ROLLED & WAS DESTROYED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE CONTROL ROTOR CUFF, PN 36124-3, HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE.

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

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