Xcelerator Accident

[nemofinder22]

From a few days ago, glad no one was seriously hurt

http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/2009/09/18/knotts-xcelerator-ride-injures-two/18815/

Knott’s Xcelerator ride injures two
A cable snapped during a run of Knott’s Berry Farm’s Xcelerator ride this week, injuring two people.

Knott’s officials said on Friday that the ride has been inspected by Cal-OSHA, but will remain shut down indefinitely while an investigation determines what caused the cable’s failure.

Pretty sure topics like these get a little heated, so play nice

[PirateGuy 815]

Wow/ I'm glad no one was seriously hurt.

[Darkbeer]

Here is what I wrote over at TripAdvisor that has more detail then what I originally posted here...

In regards to the Xcelerator issue...

While it made the news because the video is interesting to watch.

There was no major issues.

Cables break all the time. Alas, not just on Roller Coasters, but on Aircraft Carriers and many other places. The recommend procedure is to replace them when they have reached about 80% of their expected life, which on Xcelerator is once a year.

Alas, the cable didn't last as long as expected.

The cable snapped during the launch (which is similar to the system used on an Aircraft Carrier), Since the vehicle did not get enough speed to get over the "top hat" (the top of the first "hill"), the ride goes backwards and special emergency breaks slow down the vehicle to a stop just before the loading platform. It is called a Short Shot and every morning the ride has one as a "test" to make sure that everything is working correctly. (And I have been on a planned Short Shot on Xcelerator, almost as much fun as making it over the Top Hat).

Now, due to the cable breaking unexpectedly, one pre-teen boy got a cut on his leg (Paramedics reported it as a "mild to moderate" injury) and one other person claimed back pain. Both were taken to a nearby Hospital for Medical assistance and both released the same day.

Everything worked the way it was planned and the safety systems worked as designed.

You do see some fiberglass shreds due to the cable snapping against the decorative frame on the train.

The ride is closed, and will remain closed until the State of California inspects the ride and signs off on the fact everything is working right. And a new cable will have to be shipped to replace the broken one, and then some testing of the new cable without riders before it reopens.

Lift Cables and Chains break all the time on Roller Coasters (heck, they are mechanical devices), This one made the news due to the availability of the video.

Here is a link to the LA Times News article that confirms the information I have received in the last 24 hours.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lano...injures-2.html

I will happily ride Xcelerator again when it reopens, which is expected to only be in a few weeks, as Knott's would like to have the ride open for much of their Halloween Haunt as possible.

[WallyBoag]

Gee, an Intamin ride broke and injured someone? That's a big surprise. I think I'm gonna have a heart attack and die from that surprise.

[club33az]

Did Intamin make the cable?

[1FoolishMortal]

Cables on roller coasters don't break all the time, nor should they. May I remind everyone of the incident that happened on an Intamin ride at another park just a few years ago? That girl had her feet severed off, one of which wasn't able to be reattached. If a cable snaps and has the potential to injure riders, it isn't a "routine" event by any stretch of the imagination.

[KevRus]

Intamin is my favorite roller coaster manufacturer and I would happily risk getting a few fiberglass shreds in my knees to ride one of their coasters.

[MoonRakerSCM]

Sure, we're lucky enough the snapped cable struck the hot rod front of the train... but what if it had flown a few more feet and struck the riders? What sort of pieces would they be picking up? How deep of a gash into your skull is ok before you start being dead?

[benihodge]

That's to bad about the accident at Knotts, I'm going there next week.

[cinder]

I love me some Xcelerator but cables snapping are serious business. A friend of mine's mother nearly lost her arm (and life) from a cable snapping in her RV while loading the sand buggie.