News Rider Dead After Being Thrown from Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia

Register or Login to Hide This Ad for Free!
Zachary said:
I'm a big fan of Ryan's analysis there and the potential point of failure is exactly what I have been imagining in a physical restraint failure explanation.

That being said, after doing some digging, I don't think the restraint is fully open in the on-ride photo. Compare the on-ride photo to a photo of the restraint in the full-open position in the station:

View attachment 45226

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Direct Link to Embedded Media Source

The perspective shift makes it difficult to really say one way or the other conclusively, but I'm definitely falling on the side of the restraint only being partially open right now.

A restraint tube failure could result in a half-up restraint just like this as the restraint bar would only be cracked/bent far enough to allow the rider's body to be forced out of the vehicle. Really uncomfortable observation re: the on-ride photo: If the restraint was cracked and the restraint tube was bending under force rather than the restraint releasing entirely, the resulting friction could also explain the pants situation of the deceased rider.

If the restraint is still partially closed in the on-ride photo, I think it makes figuring out whether or not Goliath had restraint position sensors pretty important. The restraint is clearly, visibly not far down enough for anyone to safely ride in that seat, BUT if Six Flags Over Georgia didn't have restraint position sensors on Goliath, it is honestly well within the realm of possibility in my mind that the incompetent operations at that park specifically could have dispatched a train in that state. I've personally seen multiple instances at that park of people's restraints failing to be checked at all.

It would obviously be absolutely egregious conduct by SFOG if the coaster was dispatched as shown in the photo... but it wouldn't be the first time and, just statistically speaking, that may be far more likely than the alternative?
Click to expand...

I didn't want to consider the implications of a restraint device fracturing as Ryan described, but having said that and after watching Ryan's video, it seems to be the plausible scenario. If that is the case, SFOG's yearly NDT and maintenance is going to come into question majorly in this.

Pertaining to Ryan's video, im glad someone finally used both mechanical drawings showing the redundancy of B&M restraints and pictures showing how the restraints are linked. Unfortunately, Ryan's video will be skipped by most i fear in favor of those screaming that Rome is burning down.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Full Send LSM, Fiender, Bring Back Questor 87 and 6 others
Question here. Years ago all rides had a live person addressing safety concerns. Now those are on a loop and play very randomly. My question is does the general public pay attention when it is on a loop? We used to work to assure riders were paying attention during the spiels and could even stress possible concerns before dispatching. I’m concerned that the gp is so preoccupied in the station that they are not paying enough attention.
 
Mojosdad said:
Question here. Years ago all rides had a live person addressing safety concerns. Now those are on a loop and play very randomly. My question is does the general public pay attention when it is on a loop? We used to work to assure riders were paying attention during the spiels and could even stress possible concerns before dispatching. I’m concerned that the gp is so preoccupied in the station that they are not paying enough attention.
Click to expand...
People won't even read signs that are directly in their face.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GASM, Full Send LSM, Fiender and 5 others
Zachary said:
I'm a big fan of Ryan's analysis there and the potential point of failure is exactly what I have been imagining in a physical restraint failure explanation.

That being said, I don't think the restraint is fully open in the on-ride photo. Compare the on-ride photo to a photo of the restraint in the full-open position in the station:

View attachment 45226

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Direct Link to Embedded Media Source

The perspective shift makes it difficult to really say one way or the other conclusively, but I'm definitely falling on the side of the restraint only being partially open right now.

A restraint tube failure could result in a half-up restraint just like this as the restraint bar would only be cracked/bent far enough to allow the rider's body to be forced out of the vehicle. Really uncomfortable observation re: the on-ride photo: If the restraint was cracked and the restraint tube was bending under force rather than the restraint releasing entirely, the resulting friction could also explain the pants situation of the deceased rider.

If the restraint is still partially closed in the on-ride photo, I think it makes figuring out whether or not Goliath had restraint position sensors pretty important. The restraint is clearly, visibly not in a safe riding position for anyone, but if Six Flags Over Georgia didn't have restraint position sensors on Goliath, it is honestly well within the realm of possibility in my mind that the incompetent operations at that park specifically could have dispatched a train in that state. I've personally seen multiple instances at that park of people's restraints failing to be checked at all.

It would obviously be absolutely egregious conduct by SFOG if the coaster was dispatched as shown in the photo... but it wouldn't be the first time SFOG has dispatched coasters with riders in wildly unsafe conditions and, just statistically speaking, that may be a more likely explanation than the alternative?
Click to expand...

In this photo from Coaster Force, Goliath has these. Would these be for restraint sensors in the seats or are those there for something else?

Ive also heard that it does have sensors, but it is a row verification rather than an individual seat verification. I can’t say that with 100% certainty though.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0960.jpeg
    IMG_0960.jpeg
    792.2 KB · Views: 42
Le Moose said:
In this photo from Coaster Force, Goliath has these. Would these be for restraint sensors in the seats or are those there for something else?

Ive also heard that it does have sensors, but it is a row verification rather than an individual seat verification. I can’t say that with 100% certainty though.
Click to expand...

I believe the sensors for rides that have them are generally on the trains themselves per seat and send a signal of some kind back to the ride control PLC about location and status when parked in the station.

What you circled seems to possibly just be the mechanical restraint locking system.
 
Jonesta6 said:
I believe the sensors are on the trains themselves per seat and send a signal of some kind back to the ride PLC about location and status when parked in the station. What you circled seems to possibly just be the mechanical restraint locking system.
Click to expand...
I think the locking mechanism is off to the right on the other side of the platform and those actually push up onto the train.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jonesta6
Le Moose said:
I think the locking mechanism is off to the right on the other side of the platform and those actually push up onto the train.
Click to expand...
This is correct. The items circled to the left are electrical brushes with the sole purpose of providing power and receiving signal for the harness monitoring.

Whether or not they are used on Goliath is another story and we will not know until more information surfaces.

If used, they should be programmed into the ride to prevent dispatch if any single restraint does not meet the sensor which, also, should be adjusted properly on the desired "click". This should be the third "click" which would be six individual pawls at holding a rider in before it is open.

The brushes make that distinct "tsk tsk tsk" sound as they roll over most of us here know from BGW's Apollo's Chariot parking in the station along with the road wheels banging over the transfer track gap.
 
  • Like
Reactions: horsesboy, SixFlagsIssues, cschnizer and 5 others
I64 Trekker said:
It's like the safety announcements on flights that take place before every departure and go on for about 5 minutes. Nobody pays attention.
Click to expand...
Guilty as charged on that, but I also flew enough in my early 20s that it’s etched into my brain. These days, especially with most of my flights being early as hell, I’m generally asleep from the time I sit down to the moment we land.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Consider Donating to Hide This Ad