The Knott's Berry Farm (KBF) Discussion Thread

[robbalveySite Admin]

Once again I apologize if we (or I) have ruined anyone's experience on the Silver Bullet and I will mention to the rest of the crew (Next time I am at Silver Bullet) that we are doing it all wrong and need to change this immediately!

No worries dude. Thanks for listening and taking the feedback. At the end of the day we make up a small group of people who will visit the ride, but it's still good feedback. If the guests seem to be enjoying the antics, that's fine.

Like I said with the WCB Bullet Crew, they were being "funny" but not overbearing. I liked this. Was a really fun, energentic crew that night and no one was being over the top. It's one thing to entertain the guests while they wait, it's another to put on a show.

--Robb

[jedimaster1227Open Up Happiness]

http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/2010/04/26/state-blames-knotts-manufacturer-for-xcelerator-failure/42383/

State inspectors say Knott’s Berry Farm could have avoided an accident on the Xcelerator that injured two people last year with more diligent inspections of the ride. At the same time, they say the ride’s manufacturer, Intamin, is equally culpable because the company’s instructions are unclear about whether the ride’s launching cables should be inspected every month, or every six months.

In 2007, Knott’s maintenance division asked Intamin to clarify the inspection schedule, but the company never responded, Cal-OSHA spokesman Dean Fryer said.

Knott’s was nearly three weeks overdue for a six-month inspection when the cable in question snapped on Sept. 16. The train had just left the loading platform when the cable broke, cutting a 12-year-old boy’s leg. Another man complained of back pain. No one else was hurt in the accident. “If they were on time with that six-month testing, they may have caught that break in the cable” that caused the rupture, Fryer said. “The cable broke from normal wear.”

Knott’s spokeswoman Michele Wischmeyer said the park has “worked with the state to rectify any statements and concerns they found. … I am aware of the state report, and I am aware that those two shortcomings are in the report.”

Park officials are expected to make a statement about the state’s findings later on Tuesday. State inspectors finished their evaluation of the Xcelerator on Tuesday, meaning Knott’s Berry Farm can restart the attraction at any time.

“We do plan on opening (Tuesday),” Wischmeyer said mid-afternoon, “but we haven’t set a time yet.”

[SharkTumsSite Admin]

I don't understand how they can 'equally fault Intamin', when Knotts admitted that it needed to be inspected at worst every six months and it was three weeks past that when it snapped!!!

[the ghostIt all started with a donkey]

^ Agreed.

[Skycoastin SteveFive babies drowned in a fire]

I don't understand how they can 'equally fault Intamin', when Knotts admitted that it needed to be inspected at worst every six months and it was three weeks past that when it snapped!!!

Quoted for absolute truth. First thought that crossed my mind while reading it.

[fatdaddyI'm 39 and can't find the Shift Key]

I think they are implying that it might be necessary for the cable be inspected more often and if so, then they may have caught it sooner. Still im wondering how the cable could have been old when the ride was down for quite a long time right before this happened.

[eblTPR's Olden Goldie]

"...the company’s instructions are unclear about whether the ride’s launching cables should be inspected every month, or every six months."

While it is up to Knott's to inspect/replace the cables on this ride, it would be interesting to see how Intamin worded the maintenance procedure to cause such confusion.

All in all, I'm glad that it looks like Xcelerator will be back up and running.

Eric

[nitrofanI teach at the school of donkey!]

Intamin didn't respond? So you can spend $20 Million on a coaster and the manufacturer just leaves you after that?

[OldJJmanBorn when stamps were 2 cents]

I don't understand how they can 'equally fault Intamin', when Knotts admitted that it needed to be inspected at worst every six months and it was three weeks past that when it snapped!!!

Perhaps maintenance was too busy installing trashcans (v4.27), to do things on schedule??

On a serious note, whether or not the guidelines as set forth by Intamin are one month or six months, I would think that if safety was really a priority anymore (and I'm not talking about changing height restrictions, must wear coats on rides, being indecisive on glasses policy, etc... those are cheap cop-outs IMO) they would've set the stricter standards for themselves as "preventative maintenance" to insure things like this would not happen.

Typical American response: "It's not my fault. Blame those who made it, even if we didn't follow ANY maintenance guidelines!"


And people wonder why we trash Knott's so often nowadays.



Jeff "Used to love Knott's, now, pave it." Johnson

[fpsphilDid my donkey title just change???]

Xcelerator reopened today around 5:00