Another situation that is beyond insurance coverage- Tower crane in New York Topples.

[Omega Man]

I really don't know how this is possible with all the safety systems that are inherent in this kind of modern machinery-

All reports so far state there were no fatalities, a miracle in its own right.

I would like to see how they are going to bring the "house" down to ground level.

More here- https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nyc-crane-fire-partial-collapse-onto-street-hells-kitchen/

OM

 

[fmdualexhaust]

Stupid operators, perhaps?

 

[Omega Man]

Most of these are electrically powered. An electrically powered motor is designed with breakers at the motor and at the power source.
I doubt it was a stupid operator unless, at 450 feet in the air, was suicidal.

I find these pieces of heavy equipment fascinating in all phases of the engineering it takes to build and utilize the crane.

OM

Stupid operators, perhaps?

 

[kbowman]

I would like to see how they are going to bring the "house" down to ground level.
OM

With a crane?

Ken

 

[kbasa]

The fire was in the rear where the cable spools and power systems would be. It looks like one of the spools either unrolled or the cable broke, allowing the boom to collapse and essentially fall right off the mount.

Pretty horrifying and I'm curious about what might have caused the fire that seems to have precipitated the loss of the boom.

 

[Omega Man]

With a crane?

Ken

Usually a large capacity crane sets the base footage on the concrete footing, frequently an oversized elevator footing, but from the on up it’s self “jacking” due to the height.

Lots of YouTube videos-

Bringing it down is going to require a bit of thinking. Pretty sure they mentioned the “house” was at around 450 feet.

Tough guys only need apply.

OM

 

[Omega Man]

The fire was in the rear where the cable spools and power systems would be. It looks like one of the spools either unrolled or the cable broke, allowing the boom to collapse and essentially fall right off the mount.

Pretty sure that they mentioned that they figured that the heat of the fire most likely weakened the cable(s).

It wouldn’t take much to upset cables with a reported 16 tons of concrete under load.

OM

 

[skibum69]

I helped put up the yellow crane, it was a trip! Too bad I don't seem to have any pics from the show. Funny when they hang the boom it goes up one side at a time. When the first side goes up the mast bends waaay over. It's pretty wild!

 

[pglaves]

I had a friend - a BMW rider - who was a crane operator. He did jobs like bridges over the Mississippi and such. He was recounting such a bridge job. He was sent to the job site and rented a house. He went to work every day for two months as the crane was assembled and he observed the assembly. When the crane was assembled and the barges with bridge parts arrived he went to work for three day shifts, hoisting the parts into place as they were installed. Then he went home while the company took another month or so to take the crane apart. All in a days work he said.

 

[Omega Man]

Initial reports indicate that the fire was due to the hydraulic oil catching fire, most likely from a leak. Many normally benign substances such as hydraulic fluid become highly flammable when atomized such as a spray from a pinhole leak.
The report was indicating the hydraulic fluid sprayed on the hot engine so perhaps this unit was diesel powered.

OM

 

[mikegalbicka]

From ABC News:

As authorities continue to investigate a crane collapse that rained thousands of pounds of steel debris onto a busy Manhattan street, the owner and operator of the failed crane are facing scrutiny over past safety failures

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wir...ne-collapse-linked-company-operator-101746005