Amateur-built Safari 400 accident near Lahr, De, February 18, 2012
On February 18, 2012 at about 12:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Safari 400 (helicopter), registered DHEDV, was destroyed in an accident near Lahr. It was a personal flight 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 2012 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lahr, Germany
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Safari 400
- Registration
- DHEDV · no longer on the register · serial 3003557
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 18, 2011, a Canadian Home Rotors (CHR) Safari 400 kit-built helicopter, German registration D-HEDV, operated by a private owner, was destroyed when during takeoff the helicopter departed controlled flight and impacted on the runway at Lahr, Germany. The pilot, the sole person on board, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that was originated when the accident occurred. During takeoff, one of the tail rotor blades separated at the tail rotor spindle. The helicopter subsequently lost control and crashed. 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 Phone: +49 5 31 - 35 48 - 0 Telefax: +49 5 31 - 35 48 246 www.bfu-web.de 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
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from EDTL
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.