Copter makes hard landing

A Robinson R44 II helicopter piloted and owned by a well-known Hono­lulu ophthalmologist made a hard landing Friday afternoon at Hono­lulu Airport, but no one was seriously injured.

Dr. John Corboy, founder of the Hawaiian Eye Center, was piloting the helicopter carrying two teenage boys when it went down at about 3 p.m. near the south ramp at the Lagoon Drive side of the airport.

A woman picking up Corboy from the airport told the Hono­lulu Star-Advertiser he was the pilot.

Nic Politsch, 16, was one of two passengers on the helicopter. His father, David, told the Star-Advertiser, "He’s just a little bit shaken up, but he’s all right."

Hawaii News Now identified the other teen as Domi­nic Mills Patrick, 17.

The three walked away from the crash on their own, and no ambulance was needed. The pilot and one passenger received minor bruises and scrapes, while the second passenger was uninjured.

The aircraft was lying on its side, visibly damaged after the crash. Its rotors appeared to have broken, and one of its skids was twisted.

National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration personnel were on scene Friday afternoon investigating the aircraft, the airport duty manager confirmed. The helicopter flew to Oahu from Molokai, he said.

The airport’s rescue personnel responded to the emergency.

State Sheriff Division personnel secured the area near the south ramp, Department of Public Safety spokes­woman Toni Schwartz said.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s registry shows the aircraft, whose tail number is N110JC, is owned by Juliet Charlie Leasing Corp.

The company’s president, secretary and treasurer is Corboy, according to Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs records. The company’s purpose is equipment leasing.

At about the time of the crash, the wind was blowing at 17 mph and gusting up to 29 mph. It’s unknown whether the gusts played any role in the hard landing.

Corboy has homes on Molo­kai and Oahu.

"Corboy has practiced ophthalmology for more than 40 years, and was founder and Surgeon/Director of the Hawaiian Eye Center, Hawaii’s largest eye care provider, until his retirement," the Hawaiian Eye Foundation’s website says.