Amusement Ride Mast Mishap Due to Metal Failure

WILDWOOD — The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has issued its preliminary report regarding a ride incident at Morey’s Pier’s that sent one rider to the hospital and injured four others.
On Aug. 19, at approximately 9:45 p.m., a portion of the mast of the Sea Dragon ride collapsed. The mast, which performed no mechanical or structural function, was used solely as decoration.
The report indicated, at the time of the accident, the ride was in motion and the mast struck a stationary hydraulic cylinder that was used to raise and lower the ride towers. The operator stopped the ride by normal stop procedures, which stopped the ride in two swings. This was found to be the preferable method of stopping the ride. Using the emergency stop would have caused the ride to swing freely until finally stopped on its own.
The broken mast fell off the boat and came to rest on a fence. Several pieces of fiberglass, as well as one seat, were damaged.
The owners of Morey’s Piers were not immediately available for comment. A spokesperson said the organization had not had time to review the state report.
According to the report, a visual inspection of the ride was performed. It noted that the mast was constructed of two pieces of piping. The top of the mast was constructed of thinner wall tubing and the lower portion was constructed of heavier material. The pieces were welded together approximately halfway up the mast.
The report states that the cause of the mast falling was a “failure of the parent steel just above the weld.” The report further states, “The top half of the mast (the piece that fell) was sitting on top of the lower half and welded with a fillet weld to a plate. There was significant corrosion on the interior of both the thin walled section of the mast as well as the plate that was used as a means to connect the lower and upper portions of the mast. When the material above the weld failed, there was no secondary support to keep the mast from separating, and it fell.”
As a further part of its investigation, DCA examined several other Sea Dragon-like rides that were manufactured using the same design. It was found that the Morey’s Piers Sea Dragon did not match other rides of the same type.
“The mast was modified from original design,” the report stated. It added that DCA has been unable to find documentation as to when that modification was made.
The ride, manufactured in 1982, had an eight-foot piece of galvanized pipe and a large piece of galvanized channel added to it. It also had its crow’s nest galvanized.
“Subsequent to our investigation, the failure point was ultrasonically tested and showed an approximate 40 percent reduction in wall thickness,” according to the DCA. Further testing of the ride will be completed at the end of the season.
The DCA notified all owners with similar rides of the weld’s failure, and their Sea Dragons were shut until the masts were removed. The report states,“At this time the department is allowing Sea Dragons to operate if the mast is removed. The department will not allow the replacement of the masts until a suitable method of testing or replacement of the mast is developed by the manufacturer.”