Accident on Drop Zone freefall tower

[ECZenith]

There was just a bit on the news about the portable freefall tower drop zone falling an addtional 10' down the tower and coming to a crash at the base of the ride. They say the bottom of the gondola absorbed most of the impact and none of the injuries on the riders are life-threatening. They said the fair this accident happened at was in Syracuse so I am assuming this is the NY State Fair.

 

I've always felt kind of unsure about portable carnival rides especially big ones like Drop Tower, this certainly doesn't help the feeling. Glad everyone will be OK though.

[FlyingScooter]

I like that: None were life threatening.

I bet their backs were messed up fairly well. You may never walk normally again, but hey, it wasn't life threatening.

 

I hate carnivals.

[apollo210]

I'm not going to enka next year just because of saftey

[okinawaboy11]

What kind of Free Fall tower? I was just on one at the Montgomery County fair and it seemed pretty new. Looked safe, but you can never be sure. The ride over all was fun for a Portable, not tall, but still fun for a portable drop tower. The best part was instead of waiting at the top of the tower, right when you hit the stoppers, the ride drops. So you start falling when your still moving up, no 3 second hold. Its up up up DROP. Created an amazing amount of airtime. Anywho, it was fun.

[BeemerBoy]

The name of the manufacturer escapes me, but I'm guessing this is the same type of tower that Lake Winnie and Beech Bend have, right? If so, yes, they are really fun, but they do concern me a bit. This accident certainly doesn't help matters any.

[TheStig]

^ARM is the company name. They make the portable towers and ones like at Cypress Gardens and Beech Bend. But yeah, I have NEVER felt safe riding an ARM tower, ever.

 

Colin C

[bgwfreak]

^ Oh great, I went on the one at Beech Bend.

 

I've heard that many of the fairs are actually pretty safe.

 

You really don't hear that much about accidents at fairs, mainly parks.

[jamesdillaman]

The question is will all the ARM freefall towers be closed until further notice, or if they think it was set up wrong at the fair, or what?

 

-James Dillaman

[Primogen18]

that kinda sucks since they seem a pretty good deal for smaller parks. (like lake winnie/beech bend/cypress who got them)

[RCoasterny]

The news from Syracuse has a report on what happened:

 

http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=8E4136D0-29EB-4824-9376-A8856719C81A

 

Basically, the cables that pulls the carriage up the tower snapped at the halfway mark, causing the carriage to fall. 7 kids were hurt, two seriously enough to be taken to the hospital. The ride has been removed from the midway and a smaller attraction took it's place. What's more scary is that the cables are new- only 6 months old!

[TheStig]

That doesnt make sence though, the car is stopped by stationary magnets, wouldent it have stopped the car from falling, especially at only half the height?

 

Colin C

[TheGreatOne]

^ARM is the company name. They make the portable towers and ones like at Cypress Gardens and Beech Bend. But yeah, I have NEVER felt safe riding an ARM tower, ever.

 

Colin C

 

The company who makes the Drop Zone towers is SBF Visa Group of Italy. http://www.flatrides.com/Ride%20Index%20Pages/dropzone.html

 

If I'm not mistaken, the ARM/Larson towers have magnetic brakes, which rules out accidents like these.

 

-Bryan "The ARM/Larson towers are my second favorite, behind Intamin towers" Wood

[haux]

That doesnt make sence though, the car is stopped by stationary magnets, wouldent it have stopped the car from falling, especially at only half the height?

 

Colin C

That's what I was wondering, but as Bryan pointed out, apparently this type of attraction doesn't use magnetic brakes. Too bad the company has to learn the hard way.

[TheGreatOne]

A picture of the ride in question. From enhancing it, I see no outward magnetic brakes like I see on some drop towers; such as Intamin's, for example.

[ECZenith]

It's a lot shorter than I had imagined it would be. No wonder why it didn't kill anyone.

[fmulder21]

I saw one in action it looks like it works like a moser spring ride..I don't think they have brake fins.

[Twister II]

It doesn't have to have magnetic brakes.

 

S&S Towers.

[steel]

-Bryan "The ARM/Larson towers are my second favorite, behind Intamin towers" Wood

 

Me too. I could ride the one at Como Town for weeks and never get bored with it. Right behind Intamins for me as well.

 

They run for like five minutes straight, and you get awesome air every time. I've never felt unsafe on it.

[TheGreatOne]

-Bryan "The ARM/Larson towers are my second favorite, behind Intamin towers" Wood

 

Me too. I could ride the one at Como Town for weeks and never get bored with it. Right behind Intamins for me as well.

 

They run for like five minutes straight, and you get awesome air every time. I've never felt unsafe on it.

 

The one at Como Town is a SBF Visa Drop Zone as well, not ARM/Larson.

[allisonLOVEsTPR]

those kind of rides crash all the time lol dang carnies

 

http://ebaumsworld.com/2006/07/rollercoastertragedy.html

 

yikes...