Heli Down In Huntington Beach 11th October 2025

[Senior Pilot]

Originally Posted by Robbiee

Can you really chop the throttle at that height and not hit like a rock? I know those 222's have massive blades. Do they really hold enough inertia for a hover auto that high up?

Yes: one of mine was a similar height, twin with roof FCLs so I dumped the lever and spread the skids on landing: finished up about 100° off the original heading. The other was a single, lost the tail and rolled off the throttle from about 100ft+ and came down straight with an extreme pull on the collective which wasn’t much use but we didn’t spin. FWIW the engine was sold and put back in service 🙈

[Ascend Charlie]

Snowfella's video shows a sudden slowing of the T/R moments before the pull up - maybe the pilot detected something wrong and wanted to get out of there?

Or, maybe he saw an obstruction on the pad, and the rapid pull up caused the RRPM to droop, slowing the T/R? Pretty dramatic.

[Bell_ringer]

The video I saw, there are a few doing the rounds, showed the tail rotor blades separating.

[EDLB]

In SnowFellas video you see that the anti-torque pedal connection to the tail rotor stopped functioning. Well before the tail rotor broke away. I would bet on a mechanical failure in the control from the pedals.

[Bell_ringer]

Instagram

[PPRuNeUser469990]

Nice err sensible low pass fly-by near people and buldings.

[Bell_ringer]

It's a twin, perfectly safe
Just making sure the site is clear, nothing to see here, moving on.

[Capn Bloggs]

Tail rotor blade flex:


Blades depart from hub:

[Right Stuff]

Perhaps someone who knows the 222 tail rotor could comment on this screengrab from the HQ YouTube video above? Looks like a loose pitchlink or similar?

[Bell_ringer]

Originally Posted by Capn Bloggs

Tail rotor blade flex:

The appearance of flex is a common artefact in digital photography.

[skadi]

Originally Posted by Bell_ringer

The appearance of flex is a common artefact in digital photography.

I think he is referring to this



skadi

[PPRuNeUser469990]

FAR 91.13 Careless or reckless operation.

(a) Aircraft operations for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

Nice err sensible low pass fly-by near people and buldings.

[Bell_ringer]

Appears to be a thing that is pre-arranged.

Helicopter Landing Watch Party – $295: Saturday, October 11th – Enjoy a unique opportunity to sip on signature cocktails, snack on gourmet appetizers, and watch the orchestration of each helicopter landing in an unforgettable ocean view setting at Offshore 9 Rooftop Lounge. Limited to 100 guests.

https://www.carscopterscoast.org/landing-party

[PPRuNeUser469990]

Certinainly "unforgettable"

[Right Stuff]

Originally Posted by skadi

I think he is referring to this



skadi

Correct - thanks Skadi

[60FltMech]

More crash footage

Here’s the best angle I’ve seen so far.

FltMech

[Bell_ringer]

Highlights from last year

You Tube

[VM325]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

Nice err sensible low pass fly-by near people and buldings.

Err... Low pass?
He was landing...

[Capn Bloggs]

Originally Posted by VM325

He was landing...

Not in post #25 he wasn't.​​​​​​​

[Flying Bull]

Well, I am surprised that nobody saw or mentioned:
He came in low and at an angle (probably to see the landing area - or because he was already close or at the pedal stop)
The spin initiated, wenn he reduced speed - and then started climbing and speeding up the spin - thereafter the tailrotor separated.
Giving older threads about the 222/230 my guess is LTE - running out of pedal.
Different approach - higher, coming in at a constant decent rate / speed around 30isch might have prevented the accident.