Accident to the Heli-Sport CH77 Ranabot identified 974PT on 05/08/2023 at Saint-Paul

While the pilot headed towards the Mafate cirque, the rotor blades struck the tail boom of the microlight. The radio message transmitted by the pilot a few seconds before seems to indicate that he had not noticed any particular emergency or problem and that the event was sudden and abrupt.  

A few seconds later, the microlight was in descent, whereas the pilot had just announced on the radio that he was climbing. A possible forward input of too high amplitude on the cyclic pitch stick may have created a low load factor condition conducive to excessive blade flapping on the microlight. The blades then severed the tail boom, causing the microlight to fall.

The separation of the two doors during the fall was probably due to a distortion of the airframe.

The investigation was unable to determine the reasons that might have led the pilot to make a high-amplitude input on the cyclic pitch stick. Although the distance separating him from the paraglider pilot was important, it is possible that when the pilot saw the paraglider wing, he considered that immediate action was required and made an excessive input on the controls. However, the investigation was unable to rule out a potential mechanical malfunction of the microlight, leading to the loss of control.