The swashplate came to mind here too. How about a separated swashplate. There used to be a lot of conversation about those when the original plastic swash came apart. It seems that everyone has gone to the alloy swash - except me. I'm still using the ORIGINAL swash that was installed at the factory.
If the heli was good until the wreck, I doubt that the links changed length - but the swash might have separated.

Since I've never seen one come apart, I wouldn't know about it, but the flight symptoms sure sound right. Or am I just nuts?

Soloboss