Carowinds Fury 325 2nd crack found in structure

[Puffnstuff]

Well weeks after the coaster was shutdown due to a structural support crack a 2nd one has been found. Looks like it might be down for the busiest time of the season while they repair it.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/28/us/carowinds-north-carolina-roller-coaster-crack/index.html

 

[BoomerD]

That first one wasn't a "crack," that fckr was broken in two.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Yikes. Gotta wonder if there's a design or manufacturing flaw at this point

 

[Puffnstuff]

I love rollercoasters so when I see something like this it makes me cringe. Hopefully the investigation will reveal the exact nature of the failure so mitigation can occur.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Its easy to know what the failure is, its companies that don't give a fuck about properly checking and maintaining their stuff, because they can pay pennies for killing people via negligence, so there's simply no reason for them to care until it hits critical. Just another industry where if people knew how ridiculously lax most of the companies operating in it are with regards to safety (at basically every level, from development and engineering of the equipment, to install, regular maintenance, and training of the operators), they'd probably shit a brick and stop going. We're seeing similar ridiculousness with cruise ships.

 

[cytg111]

I love rollercoasters so when I see something like this it makes me cringe. Hopefully the investigation will reveal the exact nature of the failure so mitigation can occur.

No it makes them better. Going up in one not knowing if its gonna crack, damn dude. RUSH.

 

[Zorba]

Yikes. Gotta wonder if there's a design or manufacturing flaw at this point

Mistakes do happen and obviously something is wrong. It's interesting because B&M really is the top 1 or 2 designers in the world and all of their steel for North America is welded by the same shop outside Cincinnati. But who knows, maybe the shop inspector turned over during this fab.

The first one at least looked like a failed weld.

 

[Zorba]

Its easy to know what the failure is, its companies that don't give a fuck about properly checking and maintaining their stuff, because they can pay pennies for killing people via negligence, so there's simply no reason for them to care until it hits critical. Just another industry where if people knew how ridiculously lax most of the companies operating in it are with regards to safety (at basically every level, from development and engineering of the equipment, to install, regular maintenance, and training of the operators), they'd probably shit a brick and stop going. We're seeing similar ridiculousness with cruise ships.

Yeah, while this might be true for a handful of small operators in non-inspection states, I don't think that applies here.

 

[hal2kilo]

No it makes them better. Going up in one not knowing if its gonna crack, damn dude. RUSH.

I get where you are coming from. If at some point, you don't have some fear for your life, then the ride ain't fire.

 

[soulcougher73]

Damn regulations always getting in the way of shareholder profit...

 

[BoomerD]

Mistakes do happen and obviously something is wrong. It's interesting because B&M really is the top 1 or 2 designers in the world and all of their steel for North America is welded by the same shop outside Cincinnati. But who knows, maybe the shop inspector turned over during this fab.

The first one at least looked like a failed weld.

It may have started as a failed weld...but went bad quickly.

 

[Zorba]

It may have started as a failed weld...but went bad quickly.

View attachment 83801

Yeah, it looks like the weld around the diagonal brace failed, once that happened it couldn't carry the lateral forces anymore and crack through horizontally from bending moment.

The amount of gap also (to me at least) indicates that either the track has yielded to the right, or the support column was preloaded when installed. Over that length being preloaded likely wouldn't matter, but it is possible the overall stresses were higher than designed because of it.

 

[skyking]

you can see which way the dynamic forces are sending it. I doubt it was preloaded, more like the thing failed under loading and the track has displaced that way.
If you want to get your freak on, save up a few $$ and do this.
https://www.adrenaline.com/aerobatics/

Or go to the nearest extra 330 flight training facility.
https://americanflightschools.com/aircraft/n330mn/

truthfully, a citabria ride will get you all messed up in no time. No need to pull high G.
https://www.tailwheeladventures.com/pilot-courses

 

[FelixDeCat]

Rides are more thrilling when your life is at risk?

 

[IronWing]

It may have started as a failed weld...but went bad quickly.

View attachment 83801

Someone needs to sneak up there and put duct tape on it.

 

[BoomerD]

Someone needs to sneak up there and put Gorilla tape on it.

Ftfy