Yeah my thoughts are along the same lines, no way I'm getting on the rides, although millions do and live every day sure is a tragic event..

I remember when I was little, Dad mentioning that he would only ever consider riding carnival rides in MD or VA, because he happened to know that they had tighter inspection standards than other places. Not sure how true that was at the time, but I've always been a little nervous and tend to look at the hitch pins, etc., when Mrs.BurtonRW and I are enjoying these events.

Fortunately for me, our riding is pretty much limited to the ferris wheel and the scrambler.

I'll save the more adventurous rides for bona fide amusement parks... where occasional catastrophic failures can still occur, but I reckon are much less likely.

-Rob

What might attribute to this is "load". A ride may inspect and test just fine in a dry run, but fill it full of people and all of a sudden that load might just be the trigger point for catastrophic failure such as this.

I'm in NO WAY defending the carnies that are responsible for said assembly/testing; just trying to think outside the box...

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
More evidence I was right to swear off these temporary setup rides about circa 1985.....

I love coasters and rides, but not the janky as fuck traveling ones. No way.

I agree, most likely assembly error by the employees. However could be metal fatigue, or replacing a Grade 8 bolt with a Grade 2. I have never ridden a fair ride for just this reason.

I prefer running whitewater in a kayak or scuba diving to 150' using trimix, as these activities are dependent upon skill not luck.

My Dad would never let us on these kind of portable rides you see at fairs and festivals and I guess he was right all along. They are dangerous as shit, poorly maintained and run by kids who have no clue.

There've been several news reports of failed rides, the last couple years or so, no?

I think I'd be disinclined to get on any of 'em, myself.

Remember, these aren't the typical amusement park rides although many look similar. They are not erected once and run in place. Not only are they put up and taken down several times a month they bounce down freeways and other roads placing additional loads on the structure. Repairs are often done quickly by someone who "know hadda weld" so they are back in service and making money as quick as possible.

Tragic but the surprise is that it doesn't happen more often

quote:

Tragic but the surprise is that it doesn't happen more often

Because I like statistics.....

I found some research that said there are approximately 8 injuries for every 1,000,000 portable carnival rides.

Apparently it's still safer than riding your bike down the street. Roughly 1,000 deaths and 450,000 injuries per year.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

Tragic but the surprise is that it doesn't happen more often

Because I like statistics.....

I found some research that said there are approximately 8 injuries for every 1,000,000 portable carnival rides.

Apparently it's still safer than riding your bike down the street. Roughly 1,000 deaths and 450,000 injuries per year.

Nice perspective for this thread. One accident and everyone is saying "told you so," but it's pretty rare these things result in death or major injury.

It will be interesting to see the results of the investigation.

A ride that could hurtle me to my demise? Assembled by methed out drifters? And you want me to pay? No thanks amigo.

Very sad. I remember years ago my sister and her boyfriend at the time,prior to any cell phones, went to the Miami fair. The news had a breaking report about a ride that had a car break off and flew into the crowd near by. The way they described the 2 people that died, we swore it was them. Fortunately, that was not the case but a devastating night for a couple of other parents.

Anyone wanting to see local news coverage can watch the abc affiliate at abc6onyourside.com. They stream during their newscasts.

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:
What might attribute to this is "load". A ride may inspect and test just fine in a dry run, but fill it full of people and all of a sudden that load might just be the trigger point for catastrophic failure such as this.

I'm in NO WAY defending the carnies that are responsible for said assembly/testing; just trying to think outside the box...

When we were at Cedar Point in May, we saw them testing the roller coasters with water filled dummies buckled in the seats each morning.

Have they said if the young man lost was one ejected or one trapped on the broken section or one of the bystanders not even on the ride?

quote:

Have they said if the young man lost was one ejected or one trapped on the broken section or one of the bystanders not even on the ride?

The news program I just watched said he was thrown over 50 feet. I'm assuming he was ejected.

They're announcing the casualty had just enlisted in the Marines. He wouldn't go to boot camp till next summer. He had to finish his last year in High School.

SNIP:
The Dutch manufacturer of the fairground ride, KMG, told the Associated Press in an email it was built in 1998 in the Netherlands.

That's almost 20 years of stress... and build - tear down cycles on that rig.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017...fire-ball-rides.html

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:
They're announcing the casualty had just enlisted in the Marines. He wouldn't go to boot camp till next summer. He had to finish his last year in High School.

Tyler Jarrell, an 18y/o, had just enlisted in the USMC 5 days earlier.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/oh...just-joined-marines/

I saw on the news this morning that the ride manufacturer had sent out a memo a while back warning of metal fatigue and advising non-destructive testing to check for cracks. Wondering if that was ever done