VAviator

I'm wondering if you hold a current medical and have had an injury, is there any reason that medical is no long valid?

Here's my short story. Last year I was hit by a pickup while riding my motorcycle and smashed up my right leg pretty badly. I still have function of my foot and my knee, but both have a rather limited range of motion. My knee no longer has any ligaments still attached, but it's stable enough to walk on with all the scar tissue. There is also a rod through my tibia (shin bone) because there is a gap in the bone of about a quarter of an inch. So technically I still have a broken leg, although I can put full weight on it thanks to the rod.

My current medical is a first class from 2006. I'm not looking to get back to work just yet (still a few surgeries to go) but I'd like to get back in the air, so I'd only need use it as a third class. I've flown with an instructor a few months ago and had no problems. Could I see myself fit to fly in this case, or would I need to get another medical? Anyone been through something similar?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

rickair7777

I had a similar problem (ankle) back in the day. Basically I think it is legal for you to return yourself to flight status once you are obviously healed up, just like after getting over a cold or flu.

The grey area is before your regular MD gives you a clean bill of health...I suspect that if anything happened they would nail you to the wall for being medically unfit, whether that had anything to do with it or not. I would probably just ask your AME...you would not need to renew your medical, just get an OK from him.

VAviator

Thanks for the advice rickair!

I tried calling my AME but they just didn't seem to want to help. The word on the street about this guy was that his first class medicals were cheap and you were in and out pretty quick. Just goes to show you, an AME that probably shouldn't be doing them in the first place might not always be the best one to go to. Now I have an actual medical problem, and he's basically useless. Lesson learned.

I may have jumped the gun a bit, but I went ahead and called the regional flight surgeon's office. They told me I needed to send a report to OK city with the range of motion of my knee, a basic report from my doc, and a letter from me explaining the accident and recovery. This might not be the easiest route, but since I have the time I figure it's best to CYA since flying is my career. No reason to get a violation. But the flight surgeon's office did offer a tip that may help someone out there. She said to send my info to her and she'd send it on to OK city. She said outside mail can get "lost" and backlogged, but she would send it as inter-FAA mail and that would make sure it gets into the right hands the first time.

So has anyone ever had to do this - report some kind of serious injury to the FAA? I'm just curious on how long it might take. Since my medical is still current, I'm hoping it won't take as long as I hear the appeals process takes.

CRFguy

I had a similar situation a few years back.

I compounded my tib/fib on a racetrack, they rodded it and put 4 screws in. I was never in a hard cast, and the doc said I could walk on it (in theory) the day after the surgery.

After PT and a total of about 2 months I was feeling fine and my Doc gave me the O.K. to go back to work.

I let my medical lapse to a 2, and went to the AME and re-applied for the Class 1. Checked yes on the surgery box, and wrote "broke my tib/fib in accident, required surgery to fix, treatment complete, no issues" and never heard a peep. I don't even think the AME asked more than to see the scars.

I self grounded, reported the injury and associated surgery and the feds didn't seem to care much. Personally, I would've waited until you saw the AME again to report it--and even then-- just report the facts.

VAviator

I was hoping that I could just deal with the AME, but didn't seem like he wanted to see me, and told me to contact the FAA. The advice I got from the AME over on JC was the issue is with the limited range of motion with my knee. I can only bend it about 90-100 degrees and I'm about 20 short of full extension. I've flown with an instructor and this is easily enough to fly safely, but I guess it's best for the feds to know about it and give them enough info to agree with me. I'm hoping to have surgery later this year to get more range of motion. No one is saying it can actually be done, but at least they are willing to give it a shot.

Thanks for the response. Still have that rod in, or did they take it out?

CRFguy

The rod and two screws is still in. They removed the screws in my knee about 8 months after the accident, they were causing some discomfort. My leg still aches in the cold weather, but honestly I'm afraid to go see a doc about it and have to deal with the FAA hoops. Until it becomes so bad I can't stand it I'll see a doc, but until then I'll take a motrin and deal with it.

rickair7777

It will take time to work all the minor aches and pains, mine took years.