Amateur-built Rotorway accident near Lingen, De, November 16, 2008
On November 16, 2008 at about 11:30 am local time, a amateur-built Rotorway (helicopter), registered PHNTL, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Lingen (Nordhorn-Lingen airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
This investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the German government. Any further information may be obtained from: German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bundesstelle fur Flugenfallensuchung (BFU) Herman-Blenk Strasse 16 38108 Braunschweig Germany This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by, or obtained from, the BFU of Germany.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 2008 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Lingen, Germany · Nordhorn-Lingen · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rotorway Exec
- Registration
- PHNTL · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Rotorway Exec helicopter, Netherlands registration PH-NTL, departed controlled flight and impacted terrain near Lingen, Germany. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the pilot on board was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was originating at the time. This investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the German government. Any further information may be obtained from: German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bundesstelle fur Flugenfallensuchung (BFU) Herman-Blenk Strasse 16 38108 Braunschweig Germany This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by, or obtained from, the BFU of Germany.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: EDWN Lingen at 11:30 am
- Destination: EDWN Lingen
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,200 ft; a few clouds at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 11:25 am from EDWN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.