Update on Jim Metzger

[ghancock]

Posted on behalf of Russell to make sure everyone was aware of what is going on with Jim.

Jim suffered critical injuries and yes, the airframe was totalled -the good news is that he will (after two weeks), be discharged from the ICU today.

From another forum:

Day 9 of JimBob's Road to Recovery...........busy day today with a steady parade of doctors and therapists. He's done well without the ventilator and has been able to hold down all the water he is drinking plus a small bowl of hello. Based on his progress he will be moved out of ICU this evening. Will be nice to be away from all of the alarms and activity, but a little scary to go to a reduced nurse:patient ratio. Started physical therapy and had him sitting (with lots of help) for 10 minutes. Took a lot out of him, but he is a trooper. Now we wait for the next surgeries. If I don't post every day from here on out its because nothing has changed. Prayers still needed for pain management, physical therapy and the next surgeries.

Cheers

Russell

[ghancock]

By the way, there are some pictures and a little more detail on the facebook page.  A link can be found at the top of this forum.

Glenn

[Adam Frisch]

Which hospital is he at? Might want to send something.

[ghancock]

The Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise was mentioned in an earlier email but it also stated that they didn't have him listed.  However, I think a later email stated he was listed under James.

Glenn

[Adam Frisch]

Here's a nice pic of Jim picking me up in his nice Plymouth (I think) at the hotel and driving me to my old 520 at Camas airport. I was going to Vancouver Canada on that trip.

Hope he gets well soon.

[Peter Bichier]

Hi Commander drivers, owners & aficionados.

I'm Peter Bichier, I don't have a Commander but I grew up around them, I would like to operate/fly one some day. Until that happens, I would like to learn as much as I can on them. Right now I'm not going to talk too much about me or my Dad's 1955 straight 560 s/n211 (YV-T-ABE) because I should be working instead on being here, but Jim's accident has really been itching me so I'm bringing up the issue. (I promise I will follow up on my introduction at some point).

Meanwhile, I would like to start to discuss what could have happened to N222JS. I fly small single engine taildraggers, and if I have it made it to base or final I have enough energy to make it to the strip without adding any power. I know with the gears engines you don't really cut power completely but then that should actually help you if the engine quits; you might be short of the runway, but you wouldn't shoot up in the sky and stall (specially knowing it's Jim Bob behind the wheel and for those who don't know him he is not your typical Sunday driver).

Here is what I have gathered so far:

The preliminary NTSB report on Jim's accident. Keith and EVERYONE else, what on earth could have happened? He was seen making a right downwind & base for 28R (engines sounded normal) and then a "witness" (from NTSB) saw: "A witness on the airport reported that they observed the airplane approaching the runway about 75 feet above the ground. They saw the airplane descend to about 50 feet, then climb back up to about 75 feet when it suddenly made a hard right turn and descended into the ground near the taxiway.

So apparently something made him climb at the last moment and then stalled (no comment about engine noise), this is clearly not JimBob's style to say the least, one of the most experienced Commander pilot I've flown in this country. Could it be a stroke? collapsing and then pulling the yoke?

Morris, is there a way mechanically to block the elevator up if something breaks? Right engine does not seem to have been turning (seeing the pictures), but if he lost the Right making a right turn could have affected his attitude, but again this is an experienced AG pilot with 340HP to get out of that situation... I'm totally confused and most likely the winner of next year's GOLDEN Pedal Award won't even remember what happened... 

We know Jim is a fighter and he seem to be on the long road to recovery, meanwhile here are some links including at the end the LIVEATC.net recording of Jim (only hear the tower comm.) nothing abnormal beside ATC first not been able to pick up 222JS transponder and then having difficulties hearing his altitude.

http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20150923X41349&key=1

http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2015/09/aero-commander-680-e-n222js-accident.html

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=179770 

http://www.liveatc.net/search/?icao=KBOI

Remember to search KBOI 09/21/2015 for 2200Z time slot and he shows up at 11:05 after the hour, at 16:25 he is "cleared to land" and at 18:23 "Tower, did you see that airplane going down?

Thanks Glenn, Adam, Russell, Nico and whom ever is involved in modifying this new site, I'm looking forward to read and interact more with the Commander world.

Jim Bob: hang in there! (Sue thanks for keeping us so well informed)

PS: I tried to attach the MP3 but came with an error "413 Request Entity Too Large" it's 3.8 Megs how do I attach then?

[Adam Frisch]

Total guesswork Peter, but if he had initiated a go around, was slow, everything was dirty, and the engine quit, it could have turned sideways on him. But even that is something Jim would catch, I'd think. We'll just have to wait to find out and hope Jim will be able to tell us in his own words.

[Russell Legg]

Hello Peter et al,

My first post on the new site and a BIG thank you to Glen & Adam for breathing new life into and establishing a fresh Twin Commander forum.

It is VERY important at this stage, in discussion re the accident to N222JS, to re-assure all that Jim was not medically incapacitated at the time of the accident - subsequent medical tests have ruled out anything of this nature.

Peter, I know that many of us have the same sense of 'disbelief' in regard to the airframe becoming uncontrollable at a low level - what is evident is that the right engine was NOT operating at the time of impact - the rest will remain unknown at this point...

In the meantime Jim is responding very well on the long recovery line and I trust that this will continue.

I will continue to post summaries on this forum as Sue makes them available.

Cheers

Russell
VH-CAU
560E s/n 726

[Russell Legg]

From a few days ago:

Day 12 of JimBob's Road to Recovery.........the last few days have been a whirlwind. Doing lots of respiratory therapy and light physical therapy. Good news. The downside is that it is physically exhausting and painful. He falls into a deep sleep in between and after sessions. They just drain everything out of him. So as much as we would love visitors we would ask that you give him time to use his very limited strength to work on therapy. His next surgery to rebuild his ankle is Tuesday. Will be nice to have that done so we will have more options in therapy. With a small traction device on now it is limiting. I am getting a real education about the lack of adequate staffing in hospitals and have had to step in several times to do some of the Nurses duties. They are good, but stretched Way too thin. Makes you feel bad for the patients without family to be their advocate and fight for the needed care. We are overwhelmed with the outpouring of Love and support. Thank you doesn't seem adequate to express our appreciation!

[ghancock]

Awesome news and hope to meet him one day.  I hope he gets back to flying soon and hate that his bird was so badly damaged.

Glenn

[Russell Legg]

Day 17 of JimBob's Road to Recovery.........continuing to make baby steps. Surgery to repair orbital socket took place yesterday. When the swelling goes down They will do a procedure to fix the eyelid. Chest tube was removed today as well. Plastic surgeon will be in Monday to evaluate ankle to see if it will need a skin graft. Progressing on physical therapy by sitting on edge of bed, standing up on good leg, learning to hop and shuffle and transfer to a chair. Small steps, but so good to be headed down the recovery path with surgeries behind us. All good stuff but takes lots of energy. We have definitely seen God's hand in all of this. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

[Russell Legg]

Day 21 of JimBob's Road to Recovery..........hard to believe that three weeks have passed since this ordeal began. I cry joyful tears when I look back at how far he's come and what a miracle it is that he survived the crash. Praise the Lord! More progress with facial stitches removed, staples removed from hip surgery site and the catheter was removed yesterday. Plenty of physical work just getting up and down for bathroom and learning how to not put weight on right side. Finally have what is a good solution for pain management without turning him into a zombie.....turns out he is VERY sensitive to the stuff and a half dose with longer intervals works best. Eyelid surgery is scheduled tomorrow. The plastic surgeon hasn't visited yet to determine if a skin graft will be need on the ankle. I know I sound like a broken record, but all of the love support and prayers really does mean so much to us. Thank you!

[ghancock]

Awesome news.

[Russell Legg]

Day 26 of JimBob's Road to Recovery.........He is making great progress and getting better each day. Doing light physical therapy and able to walk a little each day. The cam boot they have on his foot weighs about 10 lbs and makes it harder to keep that foot off the ground. Hard to use a lot of upper body strength with fractured ribs on one side and a broken collarbone on the other, but he is getting stronger. He was able to have a shower today rather than a bed bath ....its the little things in life that give the most pleasure. However, every journey has detours. They did another procedure to irrigate and debride his ankle wound yesterday and decided to send him to Salt Lake next week for the skin graft surgery. When we return it will likely be to a rehab facility rather than the hospital. Thank you for your continued prayers.

[Adam Frisch]

Thanks for the continued updates, Russ. Please keep them coming!