Chairlift accident

[fall]

What is going on with the Safety Authority and the investigation is it really still ongoing? or are they hoping time will just make everyone forget about this?

[fall]

Still nothing? Will they ever conclude their investigation lol

[Urbane]

Has there been anything released on what caused the chairlift accident? Is Crystal set to open this coming season? Anything new at all?

[sulchie]

Don't tell me you're actually thinking about going back to this rundown mountain. They need to spend some major dollars before I'd even think of returning. Look at big white, they spend the money and its not cheap to go there, but i would rather the mountain be expensive and safe then cheap and dangerous.

[Glacier]

If the mountain were dangerous they would not be allowed to operate.

[sulchie]

Well, all I know is that Crystal had to install a piece of metal flashing on the same tower that the incident took place at, because the chairs bounce so much after loading and the lift is not designed to carry snowboarders, so the tower literally gets hit. It was all beat to hell from getting hit so many times. Yes, this could have been people who don't know to keep out of the way or some kids trying to hit it, but I saw with my own eyes the empty chairs in front of me bouncing and hitting the tower, one time the chair I was on hit the tower. If the liftee holds the chair back too long, it will do this everytime.

[Frisk]

Drove up there today, it doesn't look like much has change.

[sulchie]

Still nothing on facebook, they say theyre waiting for the insurance company. Obviously not the most insurable ski hill around.

[Frisk]

http://www.castanet.net/news/West-Kelowna/143143/Chairlift-crash-report

Just under 16 months after a terrifying chairlift collapse injured four people on Crystal Mountain, the B.C. Safety Authority has released its conclusions and recommendations.

On March 1, 2014, a cable from the chairlift reportedly came loose, sending three chairs careening into a tower before crashing to the ground.

Three of those injured worked at the mountain, including two members of the ski patrol and one ski instructor. The fourth person injured was a 45-year-old who was taking lessons.

BCSA’s report includes seven recommendations to prevent further occurrences.

“This incident can be attributed to a number of contributing factors, which is why we have made seven improvement recommendations including an important recommendation towards the development of a Passenger Ropeway Mechanic Certification Program in B.C.,” says Jason Gill, BCSA’s safety manager of passenger ropeways and amusement devices.

The authority determined the primary cause of the incident was low tension within the haul-rope system, directly caused by the counterweight being in contact with the ground.

Contributing factors according to the BCSA also include: condition and malfunction of the tensioning system, configuration of the rope-catching device installed at the tower where the deropement occurred, operator understanding of haul-rope and tensioning system conditions and dynamics, and placement of the tower that experienced the deropement relative to other towers and the loading area.

The BCSA is now working with industry, manufacturers and certifying agencies to look toward implementing its recommendations.

A number of instructions were also provided to Crystal Mountain, which must be completed in order to resume operation – work the BCSA says has not yet been done.

“Crystal Mountain’s operating permits will be reinstated only once BCSA is satisfied that the resort’s ski lifts meet all required safety standards,” writes the BCSA.

[Frisk]

Does anyone know if they will be open this season?

[marooned]

I hear unlikely. It will take over $1,000,000 to meet the safety requirements, and there's no interest from the owner in investing.

[Frisk]

Seriously? Wow that sucks.

[Glacier]

They have to have a third party inspect the cables every few years. It costs a million bucks to inspect the cables.

[Symbonite]

mountain does not have the base like Big White...so I doubt it will ever open again.

[mikest2]

They have to have a third party inspect the cables every few years. It costs a million bucks to inspect the cables.

magnetic (flux leakage) rope testing required every three years, two thousand a rope at the most for testing. The rope on that chair is only worth about 40K