Crane Failure Yesterday

[oldoakman]

We often dump on those involved in accidents. Events may have exceeded his training/knowledge/ability but not his character. Do you think he has ever been on the Buzz? Maybe he has...

Good on him! Those statements are the difference between a true professional and the fly by night clowns we deal with.

 

[John_KAYS]

Good on him! Those statements are the difference between a true professional and the fly by night clowns we deal with.

Yeah wow, he handled that well, really well.
"I consider myself a highly trained individual that a ... had a bad day".

I like him.

 

[allmark]

My take on it is this. Front tires were off the ground and no front stabilizer. I don't think the piece was too heavy for the crane in the right area. Had the front tires been on the ground and crane level the fulcrum would be the front axle and it probably would not have tipped. With the front axle in the air the fulcrum became the front stabilizers. By the time the front tire touched the ground the radius increased tremendously and the tipping momentum was increasing. A front stabilizer or not going over the front would have prevented the whole thing.

 

[classictruckman]

maybe with a front stab he would have gotten away with it that time, but the fact he backed in the driveway then worked over the front showed his lack of training.

 

[djm]

Without the front stabilizer he probably doesn't have a 360 degree chart.

 

[treehumper]

His character is showing through. Kudos to him for stepping up and taking responsibility. While it has said it was a bad day I'm of the impression he's not leaving it at that. He will do the analysis to identify what were the factors that led to the accident and will share those. We should invite him to bring his thoughts to the forum.

 

[brushbandit]

Without the front stabilizer he probably doesn't have a 360 degree chart.

That crane in the video is a Simon-RO BT4792 and has a 360* chart with no front jack. Terex bought Simon back in 1997, Terex still manufactures the same crane with very few changes but has rebadged it a Terex TC4792. The Simon BT4792 had a 360* load charter without a front stabilizer. Terex now requires a front stabilizer for the 360* chart. I own and run a 1997 BT4792 with a 360* chart, no front jack. You have to keep the front tires on the ground or it will tetter on the front outriggers. You will notice in the video the LMI alarm didn't start going off until the truck teetered forward on the outriggers moving the load farther away increasing his load radius. He was within the chart until the truck teetered, if the front tires where on the ground or had cribbing under them he may have reduced the teeter enough to stay inside the chart or close enough that he would have saved himself.
Obviously it is not smart to take that much weight over the front. I never go over the front with any appreciable weight irregardless of what the chart says.

 

[Daniel]

Nice analysis everyone.. Good way to share the info..

 

[treevet]

Obviously it is not smart to take that much weight over the front. I never go over the front with any appreciable weight irregardless of what the chart says.

Unless...of course....you own a rear mount...which every tree op should opt for.

 

[treevet]

ps...my last crane which was not a rr mount I had 2 heavy duty commercial jacks welded to the front bumper at both frame attachments.

 

[TreeLogic]

I like him.

Me too. Took some nads to even interview with a camera crew after all that. And he did a really good job considering. Humility shines in a situation like that.