# Roller coaster closed for huge failure **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 1, 2023, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425 "2023-07-01T22:38:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2023, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/41 "2023-07-14T21:05:55Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > I’ve had good luck buying superglue in plastic bottles. Store in refrigerator. The tiny metal tubes, yeah, fuggedaboutit. > [@PastTense](#): > > [Fury 325 REOPENS At Carowinds, Official Statement Released!](https://www.themeparktourist.com/news/20230714/33562/new-support-column-now-place-fury-325-carowinds-investigation-continues-when) > > I am surprised it is being repaired so quickly [I thought they would have to do lots of investigations first] I find this juxtaposition of threads … appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/42 "2023-07-14T21:10:07Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I am surprised they had another support beam of just the right size laying around. What, do they keep back-up hardware like that, just in case? Hello, Bob’s Steel fabricators? I need an 18" diameter standard steel pipe 112 ft 6" long. Yes, I’d like it delivered. You use Uber eats for that? OK. This is standard hunks of ordinary structural steel. Yes, it’s big compared to homeowner stuff, but somebody in that state assembles this kinda stuff all day every day. And that’s assuming they replace the whole column, not just whack off 10 feet and sister in a new hunk up top under the existing fittings. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/43 "2023-07-14T23:01:08Z")
He should have called 911, like that bridge inspector did a few years ago when he found a crack in a large bridge over the Mississippi River at Memphis, or at least threatened to do so. THAT might have gotten their attention. I buy the mini-tubes of Super Glue or its variations, because yeah, they’re not very reusable. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2023, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/44 "2023-07-15T06:03:54Z")
That’s absurd, and offensive, frankly. Nobody in their right mind would use superglue. That’s what JB-Weld is for! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/45 "2023-07-15T15:15:23Z")
I would expect the repairs to not come until after all of the investigations are complete. If you don’t even know what caused the problem, how can you hope to fix it? Maybe it failed because that beam needed to be larger, or there needed to be another beam at a different angle, or whatever. And of course, the ride should remain closed until the investigation and subsequent repair are both completed. I hope, at least, that the park’s attendance is way down with this news. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/46 "2023-07-16T00:10:29Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > I’ve had good luck buying superglue in plastic bottles. Store in refrigerator. The tiny metal tubes, yeah, fuggedaboutit. I am pretty sure those tiny metal tubes are so tiny and metal b/c it is thought as an “use only once” scenario … at least that is the way I always “read” this product. And yep, I get better milage from bottles in the fridge … but then again it is more expensive and if the bottle goes off (b/c its being mishandled by 3 teenagers) I am out more money and need to make an extra trip to get some other glue … so I resort to buying strips of 5-10 cheap chinese superglue “mini-tubes”, normally for 30-50c each … and have my eggs in different baskets > [@Common\_Tater](#): > > That’s absurd, and offensive, frankly. > > Nobody in their right mind would use superglue. That’s what JB-Weld is for! yep, and use their instant variety, so you don’t have to stop any rides for it to set … (trust me, I have some hands on experience in quality assurance in an undisclosed commercial submarine company) reminds me of the old engeneering joke: does it move and shouldn’t? → Duct-tape does it not move and should? → DW40 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/47 "2023-07-16T00:39:41Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > > [@Common\_Tater](#): > > > > I’ve had good luck buying superglue in plastic bottles. Store in refrigerator. The tiny metal tubes, yeah, fuggedaboutit. > > I am pretty sure those tiny metal tubes are so tiny and metal b/c it is thought as an “use only once” scenario … at least that is the way I always “read” this product. > > And yep, I get better milage from bottles in the fridge … but then again it is more expensive and if the bottle goes off (b/c its being mishandled by 3 teenagers) I am out more money and need to make an extra trip to get some other glue … > > so I resort to buying strips of 5-10 cheap chinese superglue “mini-tubes”, normally for 30-50c each … and have my eggs in different baskets > > > [@Common\_Tater](#): > > > > That’s absurd, and offensive, frankly. > > > > Nobody in their right mind would use superglue. That’s what JB-Weld is for! > > yep, and use their instant variety, so you don’t have to stop any rides for it to set … > > (trust me, I have some hands on experience in quality assurance in an undisclosed commercial submarine company) > > reminds me of the old engeneering joke: > > does it move and shouldn’t? → Duct-tape > does it not move and should? → DW40 - WD-40 if you want it to move in the other direction. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/48 "2023-07-16T00:40:47Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > reminds me of the old engeneering joke: > > does it move and shouldn’t? → Duct-tape > does it not move and should? → DW40 WD-40 if you want it to move in the other direction. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/49 "2023-07-16T01:03:16Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > WD-40 if you want it to move in the other direction. 🤣 In my defense: I DO live in the southern hemisphere … DW-04 ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/50 "2023-07-16T01:37:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I would expect the repairs to not come until after all of the investigations are complete. If you don’t even know what caused the problem, how can you hope to fix it? Maybe it failed because that beam needed to be larger, or there needed to be another beam at a different angle, or whatever. I work in electronics failure analysis (FA), and the lab down the hall does mechanical/structural failure analysis. So I agree with your statements. Investigators should send the hardware to a lab, where they can determine (using an SEM) if it was due to overload or fatigue failure. (I would assume the latter is true.) And then recommend a solution. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/51 "2023-07-29T06:22:15Z")
Oops! Yet another crack/defect found. Seems that opening date has been pushed back a bit. > **[Second crack or break found on Carowinds’ damaged roller coaster, state confirms](https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article277746578.html)** > > The amusement park’s largest ride, Fury 325’ has been closed since June 30 after a visitor spotted a broken support beam as a cart full of riders flew by. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/52 "2023-07-29T07:55:14Z")
Makes sense that the same ride will have multiple defects. That’s how cascading failure works. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/53 "2023-07-29T08:44:18Z")
And another roller coaster fail, this time in the uk… > **[Riders suspended in air on 72-foot rollercoaster for 40 minutes](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rage-rollercoaster-adventure-island-essex-southend-b2384128.html)** > > Passengers left hanging at near-90-degree angle after Rage at Adventure Island came to abrupt halt Why do people do this ? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/54 "2023-07-29T09:05:52Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Makes sense that the same ride will have multiple defects. That’s how cascading failure works. - It has multiple defects because their inspectors are criminally incompetent. Along with the owners being criminally cheap. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/55 "2023-07-29T13:01:29Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > Oops! Yet another crack/defect found. Seems that opening date has been pushed back a bit. It’s amazing how much you find the very first time you look thoroughly. Bulldoze the entire facility and the executives. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/56 "2023-07-29T13:41:56Z")
Sure, but that’s not what I was saying. When one support fails, all the stress it was supposed to bear is passed on to other supports, it addition to their regular loads, which eventually causes them to fail in turn, and so on. So even if this failure was an isolated event - and I really doubt it was - it wasn’t going to stay one for long. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/57 "2023-07-29T15:14:17Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > It has multiple defects because their inspectors are criminally incompetent. Along with the owners being criminally cheap. I wouldn’t call it criminal, but I think the fabricator and the designer are not feeling too comfortable at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/58 "2023-07-29T15:18:37Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > And another roller coaster fail, this time in the uk… > [Riders left suspended in air on 72-foot rollercoaster for up to 40 minutes after breakdown in Essex | The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rage-rollercoaster-adventure-island-essex-southend-b2384128.html) “Our highly trained team immediately initiated our ride evacuation plan” [![](https://media-af-photos.ancientfaces.com/955/417559/417559-medium.jpg?2) ](https://media-af-photos.ancientfaces.com/955/417559/417559-medium.jpg?2) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/59 "2023-07-29T15:23:20Z")
Looks like a job for the Flex Seal Family of Products. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425/60 "2023-07-29T15:28:52Z")
That doesn’t seem like that big a deal. And “why do people do this?” Do you mean rollercoasters? Because they’re fun as hell! When I went on my first roller coaster in sixth or seventh grade, I decided to start with the biggest, fastest one they had at the park (Shock Wave, Great America, Gurnee, IL), because I figured might as well get the full experience out of my system. Went on it immediately three more times. (And that coaster was eventually retired, as it was a bit of a bumpy ride transitioning from one section of the track to the next, and did cause some injuries over its lifespan.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roller-coaster-closed-for-huge-failure/986425.md?page=4)