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.

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 h

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