Death on drop ride at ICON Park in Orlando

[Ansley]

I was surprised nobody on here reported the death on the drop ride at ICON Park in Orlando! Real tragedy, I hope that kid's family gets some closure and gets a settlement from ICON park. Anyone know why this drop tower had no backup seatbelts?

Ted

[Heather Kendrick]

On Mar 28, 2022, Ansley wrote
(in article<31042a87-0b1b-49d6...@googlegroups.com>):

I came here partly to see if anyone was talking about this. I don´t really
know the answer to your question, but it seems like seatbelts are really a
"peace of mind" thing for riders more than a restraint on most rides.
I´ve been on a lot of wild-ass rides at the ol' county fair that operated
without backup seatbelts, but they also usually staple you in so good you
wouldn´t be able to get out if you tried. Seems like the real problem here
is the primary restraint system being counted as "closed" when it´s in
a very open position. But, I´m no ride safety expert, so my opinions on the
issue should be taken with a grain of salt.

--
Heather, the Carousel Rabbit

[BaSSiStiStiSt]

Whatever you do, do not watch the video. It's one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen.

[Surf Dance Chris]

On Monday, March 28, 2022 at 5:39:33 PM UTC-4, Ansley wrote:
> I was surprised nobody on here reported the death on the drop ride at ICON Park in Orlando! Real tragedy, I hope that kid's family gets some closure and gets a settlement from ICON park. Anyone know why this drop tower had no backup seatbelts?
>
> Ted

I was going to post about it, but I was barely sure anyone was even reading this group anymore, I even seem to be the only one posting in the announcements and closings threads anymore. Glad to see some are at least still looking at the group.

Anyway, I’ve noticed drop towers in recent years have used “backup” seatbelts less and less. Even Dr. Doom at Universal no longer has them, when they used to (though I wonder if that will change). I rode the Orlando Freefall in January and thought it was a little odd there was no additional belt, but didn’t think much of it.
I agree with Heather wondering why the ride system read that harness as “closed and locked” and allowed it to dispatch (I only saw a still from before the ride starting, I won’t watch the video of the incident itself).

[Richard Bannister]

On Monday, 28 March 2022 at 22:39:33 UTC+1, Ansley wrote:
> I was surprised nobody on here reported the death on the drop ride at ICON Park in Orlando! Real tragedy, I hope that kid's family gets some closure and gets a settlement from ICON park. Anyone know why this drop tower had no backup seatbelts?

For what it's worth, backup seat belts generally do nothing at all other than provide peace of mind. Look at any B&M invert – you can unbuckle mid ride if you want to. If that was really dangerous, then you can bet they'd require an operator unlock in the station.

If I was a betting man, I'd say that this one will come down to a much too generous threshold on the restraint locking system.

-
www.superiorsolitaire.com

[Surf Dance Chris]

I agree, and believe that will be determined it is the case here.

[Marshall]

That and the seat design isnt deep enough/horn isnt tall enough. I have enough issue with straight drop towers, let alone the ones designed to dump you out.
Does this thing actually drop with the seats tilted outwards?

[Surf Dance Chris]

Yes, it does drop angled out. Though the angle isn’t nearly as extreme as is it on Falcon’s Fury or Acrophobia.

[Ansley]

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 9:36:31 PM UTC-4, BaSSiStiStiSt wrote:
> Whatever you do, do not watch the video. It's one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen.

Yeah, I watched the video it was disturbing, more than audio than anything else! I never need to see that again.

Ted

[Marshall]

Yeah, but Falcons, at least, straightens out so that the seat is under you at the brake run and the swing reduces the g's pulling you out of the seat.