An employee for the Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix and an experienced helicopter pilot survived a crash allegedly caused by a tail rotor failing less than three hundred feet above a collection of onlookers and videographers at an event Saturday. Accidents at these kinds of parking lot weekend car shows are not rare, though this is the first time I’ve seen one involving rotorcraft.
The ‘Cars N’ Copters On The Coast‘ event in Huntington Beach, along the coast of Southern California, was billed as a mix of hypercars, exotics, and at least ten helicopters. Because no one wants a bunch of helicopters buzzing in on an early Sunday morning, the Saturday part of the event is the fly-in.
One of the helicopters that was set to attend was a 10-seat 1980 Bell 222 piloted by owner Eric Nixon, who also runs Nixon Helicopters. Based on Instagram posts, the passenger was Kristin Holmes, an employee of the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix and an amateur off-road racer.
According to a post from her fiancé, Kristin got the ride as a surprise for her birthday:
Just wanted to get on and update everyone from the helicopter crash going viral today, the video is painful to see on every tv screen. we wanted to surprise Kristin with a passenger ride with a family friend Eric Nixon to the car show this morning for her birthday and meet her there in Huntington Beach. At the end of the run The Heli had a malfunction with rear tail rotor causing the spiral to the ground from 100ft or so. Eric is an amazing pilot and human being and did what he could to keep Kristin safe. Kristin has a broken ankle and compressed spine but is in good hands, Eric suffered spinal cord / sternum & rib fractures but is talking and toughing it out.
As the helicopter she was in approached the landing zone, you can see something go wrong. According to that post, it was the tail rotor, although the NTSB has not yet posted an investigation or provided any findings.
To make matters worse, the helicopter was close to a horde of onlookers with phones and cameras–a common site at these sorts of events.
The video above is from the local ABC affiliate and shows most of the angles out on the web. From one angle, it seems like the actual rotor itself separates from the tail section during the landing attempt, which would mean the helicopter would no longer have control. Based on another angle, it appears the pilot realized the issue and attempted to pull out of the landing.
Moments before the crash, the pilot seemed to be fully in control, and even buzzed the nearby hotel:
View this post on Instagram
The out-of-control chopper then bends towards a set of palm trees at the entrance to the pedestrian bridge connecting to the two nearby hotels. Somehow, though the fuselage embedded itself in the trees, the pilot and his passenger were able to be pulled from the wreckage. Additionally, it doesn’t appear as though a fire occurred.
An update from the passenger’s fiancé shows her leaving the hospital this morning with a foot brace and giving a thumbs up.
What About The Bystanders?
Another angle of the crash shows a group of people with cameras and phones running from the accident. I won’t share the video because it’s too disturbing, but in one reel, it’s clear that a person ended up trapped under the body of the helicopter. At a press conference following the accident, the authorities wouldn’t comment on the condition of the bystanders filming below.
At least one of the other injuries appears to be from falling debris, based on reports.
According to the organizers of the event, which raises funds for the Huntington Beach Police & Community Foundation, Cars N’ Copters will continue as planned:
We are sending our prayers out to all involved in the unfortunate incident today. Our plan for now is to move forward with our event tomorrow, Sunday, October 12th. We will advise everyone at the earliest possible opportunity if that plan changes.
This obviously could have been a lot worse, although the condition of the individuals struck by the helicopter remains unclear. It’s a terrible reminder that a long lens is a good investment if you’re going to be filming around fast cars, planes, helicopters, or anything else where the margin of control at close range is so low.
Top photo: ABC7 Screengrab
I don’t understand, if he hit the rocket boosters then the rotors would disconnect when he hit supersonic.
How dare you have an article involving a Bell 222 and make no reference to Airwolf!!!
Tire pressures are so important.
Maybe… maybe too soon?
Like thoughts and prayers? Perhaps air shows could be at air fields? Just saying. Oshkosh pretty much has this handled and the idea of visiting if it included some amazing cars would be a plus
Good thing BMW doesn’t make helicopters. Or Dog-Forbid – *Ford*. Imagine the carnage at Copters and Coffee if there were rotary-winged Mustangs. <shudder>