Accident Overview
On October 11, 2025, at approximately 1401 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 222 helicopter, registration N222EX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Huntington Beach, California. The helicopter was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot and passenger suffered serious injuries. One person on the ground sustained serious injuries, and two others received minor injuries.
Flight Details
The pilot reported departing from Redlands, California, with the intention of landing in a Huntington Beach parking lot designated for a large public event. The approach to Huntington Beach was from the north, where the pilot first circled and performed a high-speed pass above Pacific Coast Highway heading northwest. After circling again, the pilot executed a slow pass over the same highway, then approached the parking lot from the southeast.
Witness Observations
Witness photographs and videos showed no apparent anomalies with the helicopter during the high-speed pass. However, during the slow pass, one of the tail rotor pitch links was observed disconnected from a tail rotor blade. As the helicopter neared the parking lot for landing, the pitch link remained disconnected.
Sequence of Events
While descending above the parking lot, the pilot made a small right pedal input to straighten the helicopter. The nose then veered left, and a loud noise was heard from the back left side. The pilot initiated a right turn and increased power to fly away from the confined landing area. As the rate of right turn increased, the pilot lost control. The helicopter turned right and ascended as pieces of the tail rotor assembly began to separate. The tail rotor gearbox separated in half, with the output side remaining attached to the tail rotor assembly and subsequently landing in the parking lot. The helicopter continued spinning to the right and struck a staircase at the end of a pedestrian bridge.
Postaccident Examination
Examination of the separated tail rotor assembly revealed that both pitch horns were fractured in half. All pitch horn bolts and associated hardware remained installed and secure. The helicopter was retained for further examination.