A flight training operation went awry on Wednesday when a helicopter crashed as it was landing at Long Beach Airport, causing the chopper to flip onto its side.

Only the pilot was on board, and he was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, authorities said.

Long Beach Fire responded to the incident at approximately 1:09 p.m., according to fire spokesman Jake Heflin, who said a training pilot in his 40s was flying the aircraft at the time.

Just before the incident, a flight instructor was on the ground observing the student pilot who was practicing “pattern work,” a process that helps pilots determine their landing order, he said.

The crash occurred at Pad 3 on the northeast part of the airport, said airport spokeswoman Cassie Chauvel.

Operations at Long Beach Airport did not experience any disruptions, Heflin said. The helicopter, a Robinson R-22, sustained substantial damage.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is still ongoing.

City News Service contributed to this report.