Fatal Roller Coaster Accident at Japan's Expoland

[Théo the little frenchI wrote the book about donkeys!]

^ I think you meant "scary", Théo, but your English is wonderful, don't worry.

Thank you, it's very nice!

[arachelleI Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

Another update of the day from Japan Times. The train travels quite long way until it stops. that's torturing..

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20070509a3.html

OSAKA (Kyodo) The roller coaster car that derailed at the Expoland amusement park and killed a young woman apparently suffered its broken axle in the first half of the ride's 2,340-meter-long course, contrary to what the park operator claimed, investigative sources said Tuesday.


News photo
The X marks the spot where part of the broken axle of the derailed roller coaster car was found at the Expoland amusement park Saturday. The point where the roller coaster came to a stop is indicated with an arrow. KYODO PHOTO

Part of the broken axle was found on the ground under the rail about 170 meters from the starting point, north of the spot cited by the operator, the sources said.

Investigators have also found scratch marks on the rail running for several meters at a point closer to the coaster's starting point than the operator said earlier.

....

The sources said the coaster might have traveled more than 500 meters in an unstable manner after the axle broke in the first half of the course.

Investigators are still searching for more axle fragments.

[Goliath513Final Destination Guy!]

After an investigation is completed, they should destroy this ride and replace it with a quality B&M stand-up coaster. Keep in mind, there hasn't been a new stand-up roller coaster built since 1999 when Georgia Scorcher was built at SFOG.

[ghost007jasFluffy, Fluffy, Donkeys Filled With Medicine and Goo!]

Why would the ride be torn down? The problem with the ride was due to poor maintainance... Regardless of the fact that this is a togo

[SigENeaTHoly crap you have a HUGE donkey!]

As much as this incident is a tragedy, ghost007jas makes a good point!

However, i'm not going to quote credibility, but Garet mentioned earlier that approval by govt. to reopen may not be so forthcoming...
http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/vi ... 052#380052

This now begs the question, will the park be open in time for the Japan tour this year? Or will it close like the water park on Santosa island in Singapore after the girl was killed there.
If so how would this incident effect peoples eagerness to go to the park?

Personally i have a big trip planned to Japan mid this year and have this park on my itinerary... fingers crossed it will be back up and the ride will be open again (Surely lighting cant strike twice.. surely...).

[ghost007jasFluffy, Fluffy, Donkeys Filled With Medicine and Goo!]

SUITA, Osaka -- Mechanics at an amusement park, where a woman died and 19 were injured when a roller coaster broke an axle and derailed, chose not to conduct a axle inspection in January after their boss deemed it not urgent.

"We only learned that it's compulsory to conduct flaw tests (to see any invisible cracks in roller coasters) under the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) after the accident. None of the 24 licensed mechanics in the company knew that either," said Jun Tatebe, who heads the technical division of Expoland in Suita.

Expoland had conducted flaw tests on its Fujin Raijin II roller coaster in January or February every year. This year, however, the company had decided to postpone inspections until mid-May.

When asked why it was postponed, Tatebe had said the depot at the park was filled with vehicles in preparation for contructing a new attraction.

However, after it was pointed out that there was enough space in the depot in March for an inspection of the roller coaster, Tatebe said, "Our past flaw tests never found any cracks, so I thought it was alright to postpone the inspection by three months."

"Flaw tests can be conducted outdoors. We should've placed priority on safety without postponing the inspection. I'd learned how to conduct inspections from senior mechanics, but I was working based on my misconceptions. It was my mistake," he said.

The Building Standards Law stipulates regular inspections of roller coasters. Moreover, the JIS specifies details of inspected items. (Mainichi)

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/ ... 4000c.html

They didn't think it was necessary to make an inspection? I can only imagine how awful they must feel for having caused a death like this...

I doubt this ride will ever open again, due to the superstitious minds of most (not all) of the Japanese culture. Only time will tell I suppose.

[carolinacaniac"Excuse me, miss, may I pound my large rooster into your donkey?"]

The fact that they put off the inspection makes me wonder if they have done the same for other rides? I would hope that isn't the case, but who knows. I do hope though that the park at least will be open for everyone who is on the Japan trip.

[RollerCI wrote the book about donkeys!]

Safety is obviously not their #1 priority if they deemed that since a problem didn't occur previous years. How stupid. Also, it seems like the coaster was running on one set of wheels till it hit the bottom of that hill and it probably lost so much momentum that it stopped and tilted over.

[AstatIndiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Donkey.]

Why would the ride be torn down? The problem with the ride was due to poor maintainance... Regardless of the fact that this is a togo

Japanese culture takes ride accidents very seriously. Steel Dragon 2000 was closed for 3 years because of a non-fatal accident, that one Arrow suspended coaster was closed permanently (I dunno if it's still standing) because of a non-fatal accident...you get the idea. Trust me, this coaster will never operate again.

[sfgadviperboiThis B&M donkey is so smooth!]

It never happen on SFGADV's Viper because it was very well maintained. I worked on it for three seasons (96-98) and it ran very well. A cable did snap once but engineers did not see a problem with the structural integrity of the ride and it reopened within a few hours. The ride's valleying issues were because of grease on the trains that GADV used which was not the approved weight Togo recommended (hence why SF lost the lawsuit).

I’m still wondering how this never happened to Viper at Great Adventure though

Its a good thing that was torn down and scrapped before anything happened. I hope this coaster meets the same fate.