MD Helicopter 500/C/D/E/L
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 240; Flight Crew Total 3500; Flight Crew Type 400
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
Cruise over the Bay near the sand bar when violent high frequency shaking started.I directed the aircraft toward the shore line in a power on autorotation and maintained speed to locate safe landing place. I located a dirt road and tried to turn left into the wind but had no left turn capability so I tried right and had a little so used cyclic and the little right I had to line up with the road as I slightly turned and came in with the autorotation; near the end I was able to use slight power on for touchdown. No injuries to passengers or the aircraft and landing was uneventful.
MD-500 helicopter pilot experiences violent high frequency shaking during cruise flight at 2;000 feet. The ability to turn left or right is impaired but the reporter is able to line up and land safely on a dirt road.