If you mounted the new chain, set the tension and made sure it was free to spin around the bar smoothly without funny noise or feel before starting the saw and cutting with it, it is unlikely that it would start hitting anything on the saw during the cut that you didn't already pick up. I vote for a bad chain that was assembled with all the right hand cutters having missed a step in the manufacturing process. Unlikely, but screw ups do happen. Are the cutters chrome plated?
