Xcelerator at Knott's is OPEN!

[Theme Park Review]

Xcelerator re-opened yesterday (Monday).

Here is a POV of the coaster:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CpkiwQM1go

And here is an article with details from the State investigation and
some news about the ride re-opening:
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. When state inspectors inquired, Intamin
representatives said they recommend monthly inspections.

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 they were aware of the
state’s concerns about the overdue maintenance and the confusion over
when the maintenance should be performed.

Knott’s, she said, has “worked with the state to rectify any
statements and concerns they found.”

Park crews will now perform “magnetic inductive” inspections of the
cables on a monthly basis, Wischmeyer said. Those examinations pick up
flaws in the cable that can’t be seen during manual inspections, she
said.

State inspectors finished their evaluation of the Xcelerator on
Monday. Knott’s Berry Farm reopened the ride late in the afternoon.

[Josh Wozny]

I'm glad it's open. I love that ride. Let me get this straight, though
- Knott's says that Intamin is unclear whether or not it should be
inspected every 1 or every 6 months, but then they were overdue on
their 6 month inspection by 6 weeks?

So, if you question whether or not it should be done at 6 months, why
wait until 7 1/2?

Sounds like someone goofed.

Josh

On Apr 27, 12:01 pm, Theme Park Review <robbal...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Xcelerator re-opened yesterday (Monday).
>
> Here is a POV of the coaster:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CpkiwQM1go
>
> And here is an article with details from the State investigation and

> some news about the ride re-opening:http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/2010/04/26/state-blames-knotts-ma...