looks like a Demag AC700 with luffing jib. no one was hurt. that's an expensive salvage, cut it up and put it back together in germany, i suppose
It Seems God May Have Interferred
The crane operator was unhurt.
The plan was to quickly repair the Cathedral to open for a 9/11 service. That is the same service that specifically excluded Baptists and Evangelical Protestants, but did include Buddists and Muslims.
Seems like God is more ecumenical than Washington wants.
First the hurricane against the Godless NYC remembrance and now this.
I wonder if he has anything planned for Shanksville, PA.
Paul in PA
It Seems God May Have Interfered
Paul,
maybe our creator should have reminded the crane operator to check the outrigger pads, as that is a monstrous crane (approx. 100 ton capacity), with a luffing jib attachment, etc. not to mention it has been raining like sevensonsabtchz, the ground is very soft. if i had to lay odds on it, i would say ground conditions and instability were contributing factors. maybe outrigger pads were not enough, crane mats could have been better.
the operator had just completed a pick and was swinging back to the truck/ground in a no load condition. doesn't that strike you as odd?
another factor could be 40+ mph gusts at the time of the collapse. that crane is hydraulic with a lattice boom attachment so tends to pick up more wind than a friction crane with a full length lattice boom would
maybe...
could be...
probably...
i'm speculating based on some prior knowledge only
i will try to keep beerleg posted on the goings on with this
Operator Swing May Have Been Too Fast
It appears to have been set up on a hard surface so soft ground might be ruled out. I never saw a hydraulic extension boom bend as this one did.
I take it the "oiler" was on the ground and not in the truck cab? That would have been a ride.
Paul in PA
It Seems God May Have Interfered
They're very fortunate that it appears to have stayed in the parking lot or street, and not in one of those structures.....
Operator Swing May Have Been Too Fast
i would like to see the pavement where the outriggers were set. that photo would tell a story.
the boom may not have bent until the crane fell over on it. remember, there was no load on the hook at the time
operator swing too fast? yeah, maybe the boom got hung up in a gust and the operator tried to speed it down
It Seems God May Have Interfered
just barely clipped one building's eaves. that much steel in the air, amazing, isn't it?