Helo Crashes near USS Arizona Memorial

The pilot of a tour helicopter that crashed in Pearl Harbor last week felt a vibration then heard a grinding noise and a loud bang before heading toward a grassy area to attempt a landing, federal regulators said Wednesday in a preliminary report on the incident. However, he quickly noticed there were people on the lawn at the Pearl Harbor visitors center and instead tried to land close to shore, the National Transportation Safety Board said. Video of the Feb. 18 crash taken by a tourist shows the Bell 206 helicopter then slamming into the water about 20 feet from shore and sinking. The pilot also flies Black Hawk helicopters in the Hawaii Army National Guard. Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Charles Anthony on Wednesday confirmed the pilot's name is Ryan Rohner, a chief warrant officer two. Anthony said Rohner joined the Hawaii National Guard in 1999. The crash killed Riley Dobson of Guelph, Ontario, a 16-year-old passenger who was on board the helicopter with his family.