Crime & Safety
PCH Helicopter Crash That Injured 5 May Have Been Caused By Loose Part: FAA
The newly released details from federal investigators are shedding light on the Huntington Beach helicopter crash.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — Federal investigators released new information about the cause of a helicopter crash on PCH in Huntington Beach last month that critically injured an 11-year-old boy and four others.
The pilot was trying to land at a nearby parking lot when a rod connecting the tail rotor blades to the control panel came loose, causing the helicopter to spin out of control before plummeting into the crowd outside a hotel on PCH, according to the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
According to investigators, two small metal arms that attach the tail rotor blades and help change the helicopter's direction were found fractured in half.
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Video shared with KTLA shows a piece of the helicopter's tail flying off seconds before it crashed along Pacific Coast Highway on Oct. 11.
Among those injured was Oliver — an 11-year-old boy who was spending the afternoon at the beach with his family.
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Oliver originally suffered a collapsed lung and brain bleed after being struck by the falling helicopter, according to the family's GoFundMe page. In a recent update, family members say Oliver has made "incredible progress."
"He is now awake and breathing on his own, no longer needing a ventilator," the update said. "Oliver recognizes his family, is able to communicate with us, and had even begun to move parts of his body. These are huge milestones that fill us with hope and relief."
According to Huntington Beach City officials, the aircraft involved in the crash was a Bell 222 and was affiliated with the Cars 'N Copters on the Coast event, which took place the following day.
The pilot and owner of the helicopter was identified as Eric Nixon, an influencer known for his daredevil aviation stunts.
"He's in the hospital with some broken ribs, crushed vertebrae and several bruises," Redlands resident and Nixon's son-in-law Jerry Miller told The Orange County Register.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the pilot was known for leaning into thrills during some of his flights.
Video on the pilot's Instagram, which has since been removed, showed several low-altitude maneuvers, including some that appear to come very close to vehicles and buildings.
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