Another bungee cord snaps; jumper plunges into river
(December 31, 2011) - A 22-year-old Australian woman was seriously injured in a bungee jump from a bridge over the Zambezi River
on the Zimbabwe-Zambia border after the bungee cord snapped and she fell into the river 365 feet below.
The woman reported that she lost consciousness upon impact, but quickly regained her senses. Despite her injuries and
disorientation, she managed to avoid crocodiles as she swam through rapids with her legs still bound, until she reached the shore.
The bungee jump is operated by Safari Par Excellence.
Authorities temporarily shut down local bungee attractions for a safety audit of equipment and procedures.
(November 20, 2011) - A 13-year-old girl was thrown from a fair ride called the Cha Cha at the Lilydale Spring Show,
east of Melbourne, Australia. Reports indicate that the girl's safety bar may have malfunctioned or opened during the ride.
She was flung into a metal safety fence surrounding the ride, and was then struck by the ride when she tried to stand up.
She was hospitalized with deep cuts to her head, bruises, a swollen ankle, and a possible wrist fracture.
Two other teenagers received medical treatment for minor cuts.
According to WorkSafe Victoria, the ride did not meet Australian safety standards. WorkSafe notified the ride's owners
that they must install a secondary locking device on each seat's safety bar.
One killed, 9 injured after ride derails
(November 9, 2011) - At a carnival near Valenzuela City in the Philippines, a man who was riding a caterpillar-type ride with his family
was fatally injured after the ride derailed, ejecting him onto the tracks, where he became pinned.
Nine other riders were also ejected; they suffered only minor injuries.
The operator of the ride fled the scene, but was eventually apprehended and detained.
Authorities have ordered the carnival closed. The owner and ride operator are facing charges of negligence resulting in homicide.
(November 2, 2011) - At the State Fair of Louisiana, a 4-year-old boy suffered serious injuries when a kiddie ride accidentally started
while the ride operator was unloading passengers. The ride operator left the control panel active, with its key engaged, leaving the ride
powered and idling. As the operator was helping children exit the ride, a child who was standing in line to board the ride pressed the
start button on the control panel. The victim fell and became trapped underneath one of the ride's cars.
Rescue workers manually lifted the car to take some of its weight off of the child and help him breathe. He was left pinned for 20 minutes
while workers used the jaws of life to free him. He was hospitalized in critical condition.
The accident happened on a children's spinning car ride known as the Twin Rings, or Demolition Derby.
According to the state fire marshal's office, the operator should have turned the ride off when he left the control panel, rather then
leave it idling.
"Anytime the operator leaves the control panel the ride should be de-energized," said Butch Browning with the state fire marshal's office.
"Clearly the root cause is an unauthorized person, but the fact that the console was energized is a contributing factor."
The ride was damaged by the jaws of life and is inoperable. No citations or fines have been issued.
"The rides are safe, but many things have to happen for them to be safe," Browning said. "The human beings who operate the rides must follow the rules."
Disney World faulted in National Transportation Safety Board report
(October 31, 2011) - The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the July 5, 2009, collision between two monorails
at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, was the shop panel operator’s failure to properly position switch-beam 9 and the failure of
the monorail manager acting as the central coordinator to verify the position of switch-beam 9 before authorizing the reverse movement of the Pink monorail.
Contributing to the accident was Walt Disney World Resort’s lack of standard operating procedures leading to an unsafe practice when reversing trains on its
The Local Europe
Fair ride car flies into railing; 2 injured
(October 27, 2011) - At a carnival in Bremen, Germany, a ride called the Octopus malfunctioned, leaving a 27-year-old woman hospitalized in
critical condition and another woman with serious injuries. The accident happened when the victims' car detached from the ride and crashed
into a safety railing.
Investigators believe that the accident was caused by a broken axle.
A Tip Top ride in operation
Woman killed in fall from Tip Top ride at Dublin fair
(October 24, 2011) - A 31-year-old woman suffered a fatal fall from a Tip Top ride at a fair in Dublin, Ireland.
She was ejected from her bucket seat and landed on the metal steps leading to the ride's platform. It is believed
that she died instantly.
The ride was inspected and found to be in proper mechanical condition. Investigators concluded that the woman
somehow slipped underneath the safety bar and fell out.
The Tip Top consists of 12 carriages that are suspended from a wheel that spins while an arm connected to the wheel
lifts vertically to a height of 40 feet.
Fair ride mishap injures 6
(October 12, 2011) - In Columbia, South Carolina, six people suffered minor injuries when part of a Bonzai ride broke apart, sending debris flying. The accident happened
at the South Carolina State Fair.
According to a fair spokesman, a footrest underneath one of the seats came loose and struck another part of the ride. The collision of ride parts sent metal fragments
flying into the air, injuring five people on the ride and one person who was riding an adjacent ride. All six were treated at the fair's first aid center and released.
South Carolina ride inspectors are investigating.
Water slide collapse injures 4
(September 25, 2011) - At Atlantis Water Adventure Park in North Jakarta, Indonesia, a water slide partially collapsed,
leaving four people injured. The accident was apparently caused by decorations that had collapsed onto the slide.
The operator of the park offered free tickets to those injured.
Top Spin strands passengers upside down
(September 2, 2011) - At the New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York, a Top Spin amusement ride came to an unexpected stop,
leaving 40 riders stranded upside down for four minutes.
A spokesman for the fair said that the ride's safety system engaged after it detected that the passenger restraint
system had too much pressure. The ride eventually restarted, allowing the operator to lower the gondola to the platform
where all passengers exited the ride safely. No one was injured.
The system that stopped the ride was likely triggered by a tall or large rider.
The ride was subsequently inspected and reopened shortly after the incident.
ITV Central News
Seven hospitalized after catastrophic ride failure
(August 30, 2011) - At Botton's amusement park in Skegness, Linconshire, England, an amusement ride malfunction left seven riders hospitalized.
The accident involved a ride called Surf Rider, which consists of a vertical arm that rotates 360 degrees through the air. A gondola attached to
one end of the arm is designed to remain horizontal throughout the ride, keeping passengers upright. Somehow, the gondola crashed into the ground
in a vertical position.
Firefighters used a hydraulic platform and ropes to bring all 22 riders to safety.
Injuries included whiplash and bruises. One woman suffered serious head injuries.
The Health and Safety Executive is investigating.
The park announced plans to remove the ride.
UPDATE: All of the injured riders were released from the hospital.
Log flume ejects, injures two
(August 28, 2011) - In Bridlington, England, a 4-year-old girl and her 58-year-old grandmother suffered serious injuries when
they were ejected from a log flume ride called Jungle River. Witnesses said it appeared there was no water on the slide at the
time the victims' log slid down, causing the log to travel faster than its designed speed. The force of the log hitting the water
at the end of the ride caused both victims to be flung out of the log, which ultimately tipped over. The 7-year-old landed in
water and her grandmother landed on a walkway surrounding the ride.
The girl suffered cuts and bruises to her leg, and her grandmother suffered more serious leg injuries that required her
to be airlifted to a hospital.
The Health and Safety Executive is investigating.
A YouTube video shows the ride in operation.
Boy falls 30 feet from thrill ride
(August 23, 2011) - A 12-year-old boy was hospitalized after falling 30 feet from the Excalibur 2 thrill ride at
Camelot theme park in Lancashire, England. His condition was not immediately reported, but his injuries were
not believed to be life threatening.
The ride consists of a circular gondola with ten 4-passenger cars, each facing outward. The gondola spins
at the end of an arm that rotates 360 degrees.
According to witnesses, the boy tried to hold on and was seen hanging from the ride briefly before he fell.
The ride will remain shut down pending an investigation by local police and the Health and Safety Executive.
Ride operator in critical condition after collision with ride
(August 20, 2011) - A 25-year-old ride operator was struck by a gondola that sped by him while he was in
a restricted area. The accident happened at the West Virginia State Fair in Charleston, West Virginia.
The man was operating a ride called Speed, which consists of two arms that rotate to heights of 125
feet at 13 revolutions per minute. Each arm has a 4-person gondola that rotates freely at each end.
According to co-workers, the man was looking at his cell phone when he walked into the path of the ride.
He was airlifted to a hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
The operator is employed by Reithoffer Shows of Gibsonton, Florida.
UPDATE: OSHA is investigating.
Sea Dragon ride injures 5 at Morey's Piers
(August 19, 2011) - At Morey's Mariner's Landing Pier in Wildwood, New Jersey, five people were injured when a decorative mast
broke and struck them on a popular pirate ship-themed ride called the Sea Dragon. Four people were treated
at the scene for minor injuries, and a 13-year-old girl was hospitalized with more serious injuries.
Man injured in fall while boarding roller coaster
(August 19, 2011) - At Silverwood theme park in Athol, Idaho, a man was seriously injured after falling
onto the track of the Corkscrew roller coaster while he was attempting to board the train, which was
stopped in the station.
It took rescue workers about an hour to remove the man, who remained unconscious throughout the ordeal.
The ride reopened after it was determined that it did not malfunction.
Carnival ride operator arrested, charged with reckless endangerment
(August 14, 2011) - At the Putnam County Fair in Cookville, Tennessee, a 23-year-old carnival worker was
arrested while he was operating a Ferris wheel. The man was allegedly smoking marijuana while operating the ride.
Police charged him with reckless endangerment and possession of a controlled substance.
Ride operator dead in roller coaster accident
(August 13, 2011) - A 24-year-old ride operator was crushed by a roller coaster train
and later died from his injuries. The man left the control booth while the ride was
in motion and got his legs crushed underneath the cars. Rescue workers amputated one of
the man's legs on the scene to free him, then rushed him to a hospital, where he died
from his injuries hours later.
The accident happened at an amusement park called Naudières in Sautron, France.
Investigators inspected the ride and determined that there were no mechanical defects.
Four killed, 24 injured when amusement ride cars crash, derail
(August 13, 2011) - At a park in Yixing, East China, four people were killed and 24 people
were injured while they were riding in small carts on a roller coaster-type track that twists
and turns through the woods. The carts began to crash into each other and derail after sudden
heavy rains slicked the track.
One of the injured was hospitalized in critical condition.
João Laet/Agência ODia
One killed, 8 injured after amusement ride malfunctions
(August 13, 2011) - At the Glory Center amusement park outside Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, an amusement ride
car flew off a ride and struck people who were standing in line around the ride. A 17-year-old girl who was
in line to purchase tickets for the ride was killed, 2 people were hospitalized with serious cranial injuries,
and 6 others were hospitalized with injuries that were less serious.
The ride, called Typhoon, rotates as its cars are lifted and lowered rapidly through the air.
Witnesses said that the car was loaded with as many as six passengers who were among the injured.
The cars are designed for a maximum capacity of four passengers.
The owner of the park was arrested and charged with manslaughter. She claims that the ride passed
a recent inspection.
Scrambler ride injures 3
(August 12, 2011) - At a carnival in Tell City, Indiana, three people were injured on a Scrambler ride
when a decorative light fixture fell off the ride and struck them. One person was treated at the scene
for minor injuries, and two others were treated at a hospital, including a 17-year-old boy who
received 70 stitches on his face.
Inspectors believe that a metal pin came loose, causing the fixture to fall.
The ride passed a recent state inspection and reopened after all light fixtures were removed.
Carnival ride operator arrested, charged with reckless endangerment
(August 9, 2011) - At a carnival in Connoquenessing Township, Pennsylvania, a 47-year-old ride
operator was arrested while he was operating a looping ride called the Ring of Fire. The man was
allegedly drunk and had urinated in public. Police charged him with reckless endangerment,
open lewdness, and public drunkenness.
Three dead after carnival ride breaks apart
(August 8, 2011) - In one of the deadliest carnival ride accidents in decades, three men were killed and a 16-year-old girl
was seriously injured when a carnival ride broke apart in Villacañas, Spain.
The ride, whose signs read "Xtrem" and "Freak Out," consists of a vertical arm that swings through the air like a pendulum.
At the end of the arm, there are four rows of seats arranged in a circle, so that riders face each other. The gondola
rotates as the arm swings through the air. One of the 4-passenger rows of seats broke off from the gondola and fell 30
feet to the ground, where it crashed near the entrance of the ride.
The men who died were 21, 23, and 31 years old. The girl was hospitalized in critical condition. Her injuries include a
cranial fracture and facial injuries.
Witnesses reported that the ride had been making unusual noises. The ride is reported to have had proper permits and
inspection certification. Authorities are investigating.
Most similar rides that use the same name and signage are not connected to this ride's manufacturer.
Statement from KMG International:
This letter is to inform anyone whom it concerns about an accident that happened on a fair in
the town of Villacanas in Spain. On August 9th, 2011 a terrible accident happened to a ride
called Freakout where the passenger seating facility came off the ride causing three deaths a
one severe injury.
Although the ride was called Freak Out and the outlines of the structure look likes the main
structure of the KMG Freak Out, KMG states the following:
The ride involved in the above mentioned accident is not constructed by KMG and its
construction is not related in any way to the design of the KMG Freak Out ride
manufactured by KMG in The Netherlands. Therefore KMG Freak Out rides are not
related to this accident.
Examination of the Scorpion amusement ride after the July 16, 2010 incident in Calgery, Alberta and
detailed evaluation of the fracture surface revealed that at the time of the incident the green spinner
hub flange was connected to the barrel with minimal weld material. The final failure of the welded
joint occurred suddenly in a single event tensile overload mode as the remaining weld material could
no longer withstand the normal operating load. The reason that there was minimal weld material
holding the parts together is that fatigue cracks had extended through most of the weld material prior
to its installation in Calgary.
Review of the available background information revealed that fatigue cracks had previously been found
at the failure location. Normal industry practice would be to completely grind out the crack and
re-weld the joint. However, these cracks had been improperly repaired by simply welding over the
crack. The repair was so poorly done that [the] original crack still remained and portions of the
crack extended beyond the end of the repair. As a result, the repair welds failed and the fatigue
cracks continued to extend further into the welded flange-to-barrel joint.
Manufacturer recommended inspections of amusement rides are to be carried out by the owner
to discover fatigue cracks before they grow to the extent that sudden catastrophic failures
occur. Once there was a known incidence of cracking at a spinner hub flange-to-barrel joint,
it was important for the owner to instruct their inspectors to carefully examine this area
on all subsequent inspections. These particular inspections were not performed on this
Scorpion ride. Apparently, the owner's inspections subsequent to the weld repair did not look
at the failure area very closely, if at all. Otherwise, the owner's inspectors would have found
at least portions of the original crack that extended beyond the weld repair. By the time the
incident occurred, almost two years after the repair, a crack had extended almost completely
around the barrel. This crack could have been seen had the owner performed a visual inspection of
In performing repairs, the owner of the Scorpion ride did not consult with the manufacturer
as recommended in the operation and maintenance manual nor did he consult with a knowledgeable
engineer/technologist. After a faulty repair was complete, it appears that the owner never made
any attempt to direct any inspector's attention to the repair area in order to check the adequacy
of the repair or if other cracks were developing. As a result, cracks developed and grew undetected
to the point of joint failure.
Arrows in this picture point to a visible crack on the blue spinner sweep assembly.
A visual inspection of the blue spinner sweep arm assembly revealed a significant crack
in the weld located between the top flange and barrel of the spinner hub assembly in close
proximity to the location where the fixed secondary sweep arm was pinned to the top flange
plate. It was also noted that a weld repair was evident on the opposite symmetrical
side of the fixed sweep arm.
Failures of this nature could have been prevented if the owner followed the manufacturer's
recommended inspection criteria. When cracks were found during the owner's routine inspection,
repair procedures and verification should have been developed and approved by a professional
engineer or suitably qualified individual. Their instructions would normally include the owner
to carry out additional inspections to insure that cracks were no longer a threat to the integrity
of the ride. Henceforth, the owner would be obliged to carry out these additional inspections
along with those recommended by the manufacturer.
This incident would not have occurred if the original crack was assessed by a qualified engineer
who would have recognized it as a fatigue crack. Once recognized as a fatigue crack, steps could
have been taken to combat the effects of fatigue. The owner's inspection requirements would
necessarily increase and include non-destructive testing so that the cracked component could be
repaired or replaced before reaching a critical state.