What happened
On October 25, 2018, an Auto-Gyro Calidus gyroplane, registration F-JSQG, was performing takeoff maneuvers at the La Croix de Cœur airfield (LSYQ) in Riddes, Switzerland. The flight was being conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for private purposes with one pilot and one passenger on board.
During the initial takeoff sequence, the pilot encountered difficulties with the rotor start, experiencing engine stalls during the first and second attempts. After a successful third attempt, the aircraft began its takeoff roll on the grass runway. As the aircraft traversed the downward slope of the runway, the rear structure supporting the tail struck the ground. This impact caused significant vibrations, which led to the detachment of a GoPro camera mounted to the exterior of the cabin. The detached camera struck a propeller blade, causing the blade to break.
Following the damage to the propeller, intense vibrations occurred, leading to a complete engine failure. The pilot was forced to perform an autorotative landing in a field approximately 50 meters below the airfield level. During the landing, the nose wheel collapsed, causing the aircraft to overturn onto its left side. The aircraft sustained heavy damage, and the pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed footage recorded by a witness, which captured the takeoff process and confirmed that the aircraft was operating with a tailwind component. The investigation focused on the sequence of events starting from the tail structure making contact with the ground and the subsequent mechanical failure caused by the external camera's impact with the propeller.