Woman tossed to her death from Top Scan at Adventureland

Wow, that's becoming a very angry discussion, but even disregarding the seatbelt issue for a moment, another technical question is--how does the double backup microswitch actually do its work to prevent a restraint failure in the event the primary lock should actually fail?

I'm not sure about the technical aspects of the restraints, but I do know that it has triple redundant system with both mechanical and electronic safety equipment.

It seems as there was not a failure on the restraint because there was no force open, she was ejected. It would be impossible to go out the sides in her seat and near impossible to go out the top due to her size. The largest hole for ejection would have been out the bottom having ridden the Top Scan. The seat belt could have easily saved her without a doubt.

I just can't wait to see what they do about the seat belt now. That will be interesting.

You should read this story too. This story only proves that the ride attendants only take the green light into consideration for distance on the shoulder restraint. Well at least in this one case and one is one too many.

http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/344650p-294256c.html

How sad!! (and scary!!)...

I work on a Topscan ride called 'Samurai' at Lagoon in Utah. It is so scary to think that this has happened! It is so crazy to think that it even could! ... and from what I hear she was sitting in the second inside seat... If Top Scan is the same as Samurai, then this would have been a seat built with extra padding for little kids. I know there is no way I could get a 250 lb woman into one of these seats! ... and the seats would be extremely hard to get out of if they were locked down all the way(which they would have had to of been since the ride won't even start if ALL the seats are locked). I am really torn on this situation. I have read that the seats were all locked down after the ride was stopped, so I don't think the seat opened and then shut again... but there isn't really a way she could have gotten out if the seats were down!

... and FIY-- Samurai does not have seat belts as stated in one of the links... They do not really seem necessary with the locking restraint, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to have them anyway!

If that news article

http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/344650p-294256c.html

is accurate about that other rider reporting 8 inches of play in the harness, doesn't that suggest a hydraulic problem (air in the fluid, insufficient fluid to a cylinder, or whatever else)?

From that point, one would wonder why an inspection wouldn't catch a hydraulic problem, if one actually existed, unless the inspection doesn't check for a certain maximum amount of restraint free play after each harness is down and reported as locked.

*** This post was edited by RideSafety 9/12/2005 4:07:12 AM ***

That is really scary I will never ever go 2 adventureland again me dying I am not ready yet I am young unless adventureland gets inspected or somethin ma parents said we are never goin again dat cheap park!!!!! 4 get adventureland!!! :( =0(