Ka Major Breakdown....again!

2Hostyl, I like the point you made about the notion that this incident happened because of a cell phone.

Who would have thought that TTD would have stopped and perfectly balanced on the top of the tower?

If it was a phone, Perhaps the person thought it was secured, and as he/she braced for the launch, it slipped out of his pocket and the rest is history.

There are many wild ideas running around about this incident, who knows for sure what really happened at the time of this incident.

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2Hostyl said:

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rollergator said:

ANYTHING being "lodged in the launch area" should cause an immediate system shutdown from the control system. Something still ain't right with the design if you can launch a train with something (or, theoretically, someONE) in the launch area...

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*IF* this was caused by a cell phone (and I think this explanation is a good rumor at best) than I'd imagine that this is one of those freak of freak accidents. Not only did the phone have to fly out, but it had to become logded in the ride. Lodged in such a way that it actually came into contact with a moving part. I wonder what are the odds of that happening. I'd certainly doubt that one would be able to repeat it at will.

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Not only that, but the phone would have had to be lodged in a place where it could cause damage rather than just being obliterated when the catch car/train came by. Perhaps it fell into the launch sled trough and prevented the sled from passing over the brake fins. Again, I don't understand why the phone wouldn't have just "eaten it" and everything proceeded normally.

I don't know why anyone is shocked. It's the nature of the game. Any park brochure will tell you that any ride in their park may be closed due to maintenance or unforseen circumstances. I feel for anyone who may make a long journey just to get the credit, but, there are other things to ride there and you can always come back another time or another year.

As for the cell phone thing, I do carry one with me sometimes when I got into a park. It's a reliable way to meet up with someone, especially at a big park instead of hoping that they won't be stuck in line somewhere, or you won't be stuck in traffic.

That being said, buy a set of cargo shorts or pants. Stick the cell phone in that pocket and use the velcro--or even better--a button closure. Now you don't have to worry about it popping out during the ride. For a set of keys I highly recommend either a) the fake carribeener that I put around by belt loop or b) again, put it in the cargo short/pants pocket.

The only reliable way to check to see if people have a cell phone/iPod etc. would be pat them down (although with those boxer shorts with the pocket for the iPod on the front, that would make for a very uncomfortable sitation or lawsuit). I don't know how reliable wands are or metal detectors at catching all devices, but that's probably your answer.

First of all, the Brakes theory is dumb. Rocket trains can and will launch over brakes in the up position. Needless to say it works against the launch, but one or two brakes in the up position will not stop or damage the ride.

Second, yes, the train does hit the fins on occasion. Intamin trains "give a little" in either direction because of the rubber cushions inside the wheel assemblies. Next time you are on an impulse coaster, look at the fins on the train- it is very likely that they look like a mushroom on the front and back from the constant hitting within the launch track.

Third, and finally, I do not buy into the cell phone idea. Just to repeat this is what is being suggested: A small piece of plastic falls out of a moving train at 128 mph and "magically" does not ricochet off the steel track in any manner, but instead cleanly falls into the sled track (which is no more than 8" wide). Then a steel sled with wheels that weights hundreds of pounds is unable to knock the phone out of the way or even destroy it instantaneously that it causes sparks and damages the ride? It just doesn't add up to me, personally.

*** Edited 5/8/2006 2:19:54 AM UTC by Fun***

Well, unless I missed a thread from last year, we never found out exactly what happened to the ride then. And, I don't see why we would find out this time either.

Good point Jason. They've got two weeks to fix it before we'll be there. Two weeks! ;)

...and you'd think that someone who thinks they're a rocket coaster expert would know that launch sleds don't have wheels.

What is it with people and their electronic devices? Are they bored unless absolutely every single nerve ending and synapse in their bodies is constantly buzzing? A 456-foot high coaster going 128 mph doesn't occupy enough of our sensory perception so we need to talk with or message someone, or listen to tunes while we ride? If you miss that person you're talking to so much, just leave the park and go meet them face to face.

How sad the other 167 hours, 59 minutes, and 20 seconds of their week must be.

Best place to secure such devices? Right where the sun don't shine. Not to be totally heartless, I'd let you set your phone to "vibrate" first. :)

Bad news first.. if you're planning on visiting the park solely for Kingda Ka, you should take note of the fact that it's expected to be down for at least a month, if not longer.

The good news is.. El Toro's projected opening date is tenatively set for the twenty sixth of this month... the state's ride inspectors testing and inspection of the ride, as well as whatever department has to inspect that elevator lift notwithstanding.

My advice? Wait til June.. Wave Swinger's hydraulic lift will have arrived and the ride should be running by then. The same goes for the Spinmeister, Movietown Splashdown, and Riptide as well.

Chiller Blue will be out of 'soft open' phase by then, and Rolling Thunder will be rolling again too! Along with the other Skyride station!

I wish we could wait til June. My Aunt is flying in from Albuquerque and we're driving from Michigan and visiting Kennywood, Dorney and SFGAD.

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rollergator said:
^ LOL, that's the ONLY three minutes Tina puts down the cell phone...

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LOL! It's worth it just to have you make fun of me about my cell when we hang out. ;-)

I can't help it. People just won't stop calling me!

-Tina

I'm not an expert on anything, but I do believe their are steel running wheels on either side of the sled within the track.

http://www.rcdb.com/ig3245.htm?picture=33

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RatherGoodBear said:

Best place to secure such devices? Right where the sun don't shine. Not to be totally heartless, I'd let you set your phone to "vibrate" first.

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Mental note. Don't borrow RGB's cell phone. :)

Don't get me started on cell phones. I transfer people to claims everyday because they got into car accidents while arguing with someone on their cell phones.
I'm up to about 50 people a week now.
Well, it's not my fault! I was arguing with my boyfriend/girlfriend on the phone! didn't mean to hit that kid...

Wasn't there a lady that got hit in the face with a cell phone on GL's The Villain?

About the "rolling over brakes issue" think about this... Yes, during a rollback the train is slowed almost to a stop by the magnetic brakes. However, when the train is being propelled by the 1.7 billion jiggawatt (or whatever) motor, the natural stopping motion cannot occur. Instead, those magnets are accelerated across the magnetic field, and that is called magnetic induction... Kinda like what happens to produce electricity in you cars alternator, and yes it can create sparks.

Yes, there was a report of a cell phone hitting someone on the Villian about 3-4 years ago. I guess they THINK they will be able to hold onto something as small as a cell. >:-(

-Tina

But Shane, wouldn't those forces be not too far off the mark from when the train hits the final brakes? Remember the whole thing in physics where a ball thrown up will have the same (or pretty darn close) velicity when it comes back down?

I don't buy the cellphone thing. Seems like a difficult thing to have happen. How about a brake caliper on the train coming loose and hitting a fin. The while mess is dragged up the track causing sparks and damage? Just a thought.

Oh, and did anyone notice the first part of the first sentence in that website? "Kind Ka breaks ..." ;)

Im sorry but I still think its funny that a park that couldnt maintain a simple wooden coaster like Rolling Thunder or replace light bulbs in the ferris wheel thought it could maintain a Intamin rocket coaster.(and I am not saying the accident was caused by a maintance issue)

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Jason Hammond said:
Well, unless I missed a thread from last year, we never found out exactly what happened to the ride then. And, I don't see why we would find out this time either.

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I thought it was determined that parts of the lining to the sled trough came loose and when the pieces flew out they mangled the brake fins.

But was that speculation and hearsay or was it an official statement fron Six Flags.