Crabs,
Yes, Hyd-failures and more so Hyd-transparencies are certainly more of a problem for this helicopter than engine failures. But engine failures and flame-outs, allthough the result is much the same is not the same thing.
The weather seemed to turn ****, with snowfall and presumably around freezing temperatures. Not a good combination if your aircraft does not have an inlet filter.
But hey, lets keep pushing the Hyd theory...
For Flying Bull or skadi,
According to this news article:
Hubschrauber wohl vor Neustadt abgestürzt | shz.de
It says:
Vor Fehmarn setzte der Pilot ein Notsignal ab.
Is my German correct by saying that the pilot, managed to send out a Mayday? Or might this be just Journos adding to the story?