skygirlie12 0 #1 July 2, 2002 to my fellow skydiving family: i come bearing a concern that i wonder how many of you can corroberate. last year i lost a friend, lisa gallagher, when her icarus crossfire hit turbulance and collapsed during the swoop compitition at the ranch. this past weekend another incident occurred to a regular on this site that many of you may have seen. My dear friend "drewfus mcdoofus" or "airdrew20012001", as his screen name appears here often, was landing in slightly turbulent winds but in all other respects, a normal final approach. without any adjustments of his body the right half of his canopy collapsed and hooked him into the ground. he is alive but in very critical condition. if it weren't for the camera helmet he was wearing for the tandem video he shot, he would be dead. his injuries are too gruesome to describe so be wary if you jump this canopy. I am in no way slandering or intending to hurt the icarus company, i am just hoping that those who do fly this canopy will have safe landings. i realize there was a recall on a bunch for being out of trim. the collapse was perhaps a corrolation, or perhaps not. i am writing to see if anyone out there has experienced or seen any other collapses in the air or near the ground under this or any other canopy, just to make some sense of this. please share your stories and support for Andrew Logerwell at this time. thank you all. blue skies and soft landings Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nws01 0 #2 July 2, 2002 Damn. Drewfus is a member of our online and skydiving family. I am sending good vibes his way and will think about him often. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hobbes4star 0 #3 July 2, 2002 i am sorry to hear this. good vibes to drew.if fun were easy it wouldn't be worth having, right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rainman 0 #4 July 3, 2002 My thoughts go out to Drew, heal quickly man... Ramon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #5 July 3, 2002 Damm... good vibes to him....Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RichM 0 #6 July 5, 2002 Thats bad news, I wish Drefus a speedy and full recovery. I jump a Crossfire 119 at about 1.5:1, it's one of the USA built ones, that has been recalled and the trim done. I set up a reasonable surf on a calm day a few weeks ago and half way through the surf the front left riser very suddenly went slack and then immediately taught again, it kinda "jumped". The canopy flew straight and true, the surf ended without drama, I was looking forward not up at the time so didn't see what happened and no-one else was looking at me iether, so I don't know what it was. But I do know it wasn't right. I'm gonna get me a Samurai instead. Take care out thereRich M Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybird 0 #7 July 10, 2002 just a note of frustration. i own two crossfires. i have a crossfire 149 that was built in spain (not on the reline list). and i have crossfire2 105. i love them both, and they are the best canopy i have flown. when choosing the second i tried any canopy i could get my hands on. from jedei's to fx's. the crossfire is a solid canopy. mother nature on the other hand may not be as nice. currently i am stuck to the ground due to a broken back. and no, it was not from a crossfire collapse, it was from my reserve collapsing/stalling due to turbulence from a tree line and stiff winds. this past weekend i was watching some landings of friends swooping a pond on the 4th. guess what, i saw a crossbraced canopy (supposed to be the most rigid wing available) collapse on a crosswind swoop. luckily it was over water and there where no injuries. just a splash and a swim. we would have never known it was a collapse vs. pilot error, except i was videoing the landings from the shore. my point is this. there are a lot of crossfires out there. icarus realized there was a problem and announced it, then fixed it. however, anytime anyone has a bad landing on one of these everyone gets worried wondering if it still a good canopy and why would anyone buy one of them. what we really should look at is the weather conditions we are jumping in. a windy day is what took me out for the summer. the winds were 18 gusting to 24. i know better than that to jump in those winds. but i did it anyway, got caught in turbulance behind a treeline and crashed my landing. there was some pilot error in my landing as well, but if it were not for the heavy winds, i believe i would not be wearing this annoying back brace right now. there are so many things we can't control, but we can choose what chances we are willing to take. if you believe that the canopy alone is what will land you softly to the ground, then choose your canopy safely. however, remember that mother nature is far more powerful than you think. blue skies and soft winds jason ps i do not wish any disrespect to anyone who has been or knows someone who has been hurt or worse due to bad landing. i just want everyone to think about some of the other risks contributing to bad landings so we can all try to be safer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DickMcMahon 0 #8 July 10, 2002 Jules: What's the latest regarding Drew? Can he receive visitors if I come up this weekend? Dick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samurai136 0 #9 July 10, 2002 guess what, i saw a crossbraced canopy (supposed to be the most rigid wing available) collapse on a crosswind swoop. The x-bracing rigidity affects the top/bottom skin of the canopy making for smoother laminar flow of air. That doesn't keep air in the canopy. I jump an airlocked canopy because wind conditions can sometimes be turbulent at my home DZ. If I'm jumping a higher performance canopy I figure I want to stack the odds in my favor."Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airdrew20012001 0 #10 July 11, 2002 thank you one and all for your kind words, they mean lot o me right now. I am still in the hosptol but doing better by the day. thanks ti some pretty crazy luck an my trusty batrak I am stilll alive to write this. Take care, iwill write more when i can see better xand sit up longer.Drewfus McDoofus Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nws01 0 #11 July 11, 2002 We are here for you Drew! Hang in there and get well! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #12 July 12, 2002 Damn! In the hospital and still posting! Right on man! Get well soon. - Jim"Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #13 July 12, 2002 *throws Drew a big wet sloppy kiss across the miles* Good to see ya postin'! Now get yer ass back to bed where you belong Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #14 July 12, 2002 Hey- Drew, you rawk! Hurry and get better - we miss you! Ciels and Pinks- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
