Introduction to the Incident
The pilot whose helicopter spun out of control and crashed near a Huntington Beach pedestrian bridge on a busy Saturday afternoon is an aviation influencer famous for his daring stunts. Eric Nixon was piloting the helicopter when it crashed, his father-in-law, Jerry Miller of Redlands, confirmed in a brief interview on Saturday night. “He’s in the hospital with some broken ribs, crushed vertebrae and several bruises,” Miller said.
Cause of the Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash. Videos circulating online showed a potential problem with the tail rotor, which appeared to be ejected as the helicopter lost control. “Eric Nixon – a self-styled aviation enthusiast known to thousands online for his heart-stopping stunts – has spent years posting footage of himself performing jaw-dropping maneuvers across the skies of the American West,” the Daily Mail reported late Saturday night.
Background of the Pilot
His Instagram account is filled with adrenaline-pumping clips of low-altitude dashes, tight turns, and desert skims … in one recent post, Nixon can be seen hurtling across a desert floor barely 20 feet above ground level with a truck speeding toward him from the opposite direction. Many of Nixon’s videos, the report continued, feature him “threading between palm trees, banking over beaches, or roaring past friends on dirt buggies in the Baja Nevada desert, often sometimes just feet from the ground.”
The crash site where a helicopter slammed into a stairwell of a pedestrian bridge crossing Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach on Saturday. The Hyatt Regency is in the background. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Injuries and Aftermath
In addition to Nixon and another person in the helicopter with him, a child and two adults were injured on the ground. All five were hospitalized. Officials have not released their names or details about their injuries. Video shows this helicopter spinning out of control before it crashed in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Photo by OnScene.TV)
A GoFundMe is seeking donations to help the family of Oliver Holland, a boy who was “enjoying a day at the beach when suddenly a helicopter malfunctioned and came crashing down on him. “He is currently in the hospital receiving surgery; he has a collapsed lung and brain bleed. We are praying for a safe recovery …” the GoFundMe says.
Details of the Crash
The crash occurred at 2:09 p.m. on the 21000 block of Pacific Coast Highway in a beach parking lot between Twin Dolphins Drive and Beach Boulevard. The chopper was a 1980 Bell 222 helicopter that took off from Redlands Municipal Airport, the Aviation Safety Network reported. “Several videos captured the helicopter went out of control on approach when it experienced a loss of tail-rotor effectiveness … Very soon after, video footage shows a sudden burst on the starboard side while debris could be seen ejected from the airframe and descending to the ground before the helicopter impact,” the report stated.
Event at the Time of the Crash
The videos, many taken by bystanders at the beach, showed the helicopter spinning until it wound up lodged in palm trees near a hotel where the Waterfront Beach Resort and Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa are located. A “helicopter landing party” preview to Sunday’s Cars ‘N Copters on the Coast event was taking place in the beach parking lots in front of the hotels. Car ‘N Copters is going on as planned on Sunday.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the risks associated with helicopter stunts and the importance of safety measures. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, and it is hoped that it will provide valuable insights into how such incidents can be prevented in the future. The recovery of those injured is also of paramount importance, and it is hoped that they will make a full recovery.
FAQs
Q: Who was the pilot of the helicopter that crashed in Huntington Beach?
A: The pilot of the helicopter was Eric Nixon, an aviation influencer known for his daring stunts.
Q: What was the cause of the crash?
A: The cause of the crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board, but videos suggest a potential problem with the tail rotor.
Q: How many people were injured in the crash?
A: Five people were injured, including the pilot, another person in the helicopter, and three people on the ground.
Q: What event was taking place at the time of the crash?
A: A “helicopter landing party” preview to Sunday’s Cars ‘N Copters on the Coast event was taking place in the beach parking lots in front of the hotels.
Q: Is the Cars ‘N Copters event still going ahead?
A: Yes, the event is going ahead as planned on Sunday.
Originally Published: October 12, 2025 at 11:22 AM PDT
