Xcelerator Attacks Two at Knott's Berry Farm

This looks like a horrible freak accident. The video is quite scary to watch. This occured on Xcelerator on Friday September 18, 2009. The cable snapped and shrapanel flew all over the place lacerating a kids leg and hurting others. View the video by clicking the following link:

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Knotts-Berry-Farm-Rollercoaster-Accident-Injures-Guests-59751017.html

[Oscar]

That is a freak accident. At least they weren't too badly hurt.

damn, that kid gets whipped, then on the rollback, his seat gets hit and comes out of place.

[Turbo]

it was bound to happen since that was the prototype

It's happened on TTD, and worse has happened with KK's launch. I don't think it being a prototype had much to do with the incident.

It's similar to that superman drop tower, the cable snapping, and whipping someone, and a similar thing happend to Hurakon Condor, but it got e-stopped before further damage.

[gouldy]

Considering the possible problems this can very easily cause and the frequency of it's occurance, I am very surprised that Intamin hasn't taken great steps to change it's cable design on the Accelerator coasters. There are many things you can do with steel cables to stop the "debris" effect in the event of a cable snapping, various different elastic coatings and such, we've used such things at work.

When you really think about it, considering the stresses the launch cables are under, even on KK and TTD, it's not a lot in comparison with some of the applications this type of cable comes under in other fields of engineering, so the number of times this has happened is actually slightly alarming.

Still, awesome to have actually got the incident on tape.

I'm gonna be riding Rita tomorrow, so wish me luck.

Wow thats frightening. Good thing they weren't injured too badly. Thats some of the most interesting footage I've seen lately. Its very unsettling seeing their panic.

Originally posted by gouldy

Considering the possible problems this can very easily cause and the frequency of it's occurance, I am very surprised that Intamin hasn't taken great steps to change it's cable design on the Accelerator coasters. There are many things you can do with steel cables to stop the "debris" effect in the event of a cable snapping, various different elastic coatings and such, we've used such things at work.

When you really think about it, considering the stresses the launch cables are under, even on KK and TTD, it's not a lot in comparison with some of the applications this type of cable comes under in other fields of engineering, so the number of times this has happened is actually slightly alarming.

Still, awesome to have actually got the incident on tape.

I'm gonna be riding Rita tomorrow, so wish me luck.

I completely agree, so few times and its amazing.

You know a way to get a sample of it too, don't you?

Oh yeah......[sillyme]

Originally posted by Stealthrider5583

I think it is funny because they are confused and when they stop, they start panicking. And then the guy shouts... It's like OMG!!! we stopped, there is no chance we could launch again. so lets PANIC!!! HELP ME!!!

Did you continue to watch the video? The child's seat broke loose and the lap bar was crushing him, along with debris. They were trying to get a ride host?????????s attention. Yeah, I'm sure they knew, but if you were involved in this would you freak out... I don't understand how you think this is funny.

[Coasterkidmwm]

Originally posted by gouldy

Considering the possible problems this can very easily cause and the frequency of it's occurance, I am very surprised that Intamin hasn't taken great steps to change it's cable design on the Accelerator coasters.

Not to be a total asshole here but I'm kinda drunk so here goes. I worked in an auto parts factory. They made Toyota and GM parts. The GM parts were held to a higher/stricter quality standard, and yet they GM cars blew total ass.

Lesson learned. Either the engineering or the manufacturing process is crap. In GM's case is the engineering, I think in Intamin's case it may be the manufacturing.

^Still, it seems like they'd take more precautions when it comes to the launch cable. Something doesn't add up.

Originally posted by Coasterkidmwm

Originally posted by gouldy

Considering the possible problems this can very easily cause and the frequency of it's occurance, I am very surprised that Intamin hasn't taken great steps to change it's cable design on the Accelerator coasters.

Not to be a total asshole here but I'm kinda drunk so here goes. I worked in an auto parts factory. They made Toyota and GM parts. The GM parts were held to a higher/stricter quality standard, and yet they GM cars blew total ass.

Lesson learned. Either the engineering or the manufacturing process is crap. In GM's case is the engineering, I think in Intamin's case it may be the manufacturing.

I thought partly to blame was the workorce atitudes in those cases. Sometimes both companies had the same designs with the same tolerances but the japanese components were always built to a higher standard because the workers cared more.

that honestly would be so scary.. imagine being on a coaster and then something snaps or breaks.. i'd freak out!

[rcmaniac25]

Thats not good. Hopefully the people injured heal good.

Moral of the story: USE MAGNETS!!!

Something like this could not happen on an LIM/LSM coaster.

The only problem I see with LIM/LSM is they are very expensive! At CP Wicked Twister is the most expensive running coaster (electric wise).

[Turbo]

^But isn't it the case that it is less of a hassle for maintenence?

[yoshifreak]

Screamscape just posted some new pictures of the accident.
http://screamscape.com/html/knott_s_berry_farm.htm