Just as a pilot was preparing to land a helicopter in Huntington Beach last month, a malfunction on its tail rotor caused the chopper to crash into a staircase, leaving five injured, according to a preliminary report.

The National Transportation Safety Board's report called the Oct. 11 crash an accident. Just after 2 p.m. local time near a parking lot off Pacific Coast Highway, between Beach Boulevard and Twin Dolphins Drive, the Bell 222 helicopter crashed into the staircase leading to a pedestrian bridge that runs over Pacific Coast Highway to the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa.

The pilot was descending above a parking lot where he was intending to land when the helicopter's nose suddenly veered left. He then heard a loud noise from the left rear side.

He attempt

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