downwash Posted July 15, 2003 Report Share Posted July 15, 2003 For those of you that know Steve Kappelar, of Delta Helicopters, he was injured in a 204 accident this past Sunday, on a tree-planting job near Red Earth, AB. He''s in hospital in Edmonton, with a broken back and arm, but apparently his spinal cord is OK. Nothing concrete about the cause yet. Steve apparently got the ship down upright, but severely damaged. I heard unsubstantiated rumor that there was indication of engine problems. I expect to visit Steve in hospital this weekend, and will pass to the grizzled old bird any greetings anyone chooses to send me via PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldMember Posted July 15, 2003 Report Share Posted July 15, 2003 I don''t know the man, but please let him know that all of his aviating brothers and sisters wish him a speedy recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cap Posted July 16, 2003 Report Share Posted July 16, 2003 Downwash ----- Don't know Steve, but know the name. Give him my best and please advise him that you know of two excellent sources of information about various back conditions/problems. He will now become an expert on how smooth a helicopter flies through the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downwash Posted July 16, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2003 Cap & Goldmember, consider that done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinstar_ca Posted July 16, 2003 Report Share Posted July 16, 2003 never met him either, but i do send my best wishes and thoughts for a speedy and complete recovery.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
412driver Posted July 16, 2003 Report Share Posted July 16, 2003 hey downwash, send steve my best and i wish him a speedy recovery. 412driver ps. man, that guy holds the record for time served in High Level................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinstar_ca Posted July 18, 2003 Report Share Posted July 18, 2003 it turns out that steve is the brother in law of a fellow that i work with very closely and as such, have the honor of knowing steve's sister as well... i spoke with his bro in law earlier this afternoon and steve is recovering well... broken arm was from the cyclic, back was broken in the lower lumbar area... rods are in place now at the fracture sites... from what my friend told me, if you look at the bird, it looks like it was landed on purpose with little indication as to the force of the landing... he was longlining from the right as i understand with no door on... also had to wait about 4 hrs before the tree planters when queried as to the whereabouts of their air support, admitted they had no idea.. it was then he was looked for and found by another driver... apparently, his room is full of flowers from across the country... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downwash Posted July 19, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2003 Thanks, Twinstar. I''ll be seeing Steve in the hospital tomorrow and will bring any update here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downwash Posted July 20, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2003 For those of you that PM''d me, or asked here, I saw Steve today. He appreciates all of your greetings and good wishes, and asked me to pass on his thanks. Although he didn''t have his surgery until Wednesday, following Sundays''s accident, he''s coming along well now, with the second lumbar vertebrae fused between the first and third. He''ll be wearing one of those clamshells for about three months, but looks great and sounds the same as ever. I''ll add my own thanks for you adding to the cheer of a temporarily fallen comrade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
412driver Posted July 20, 2003 Report Share Posted July 20, 2003 hey DW, any word from steve as to what happened? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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