Another crane collapse

[taxfree4]

At the largest infrastructure project in the United States, the Tappan Zee Bridge, another crane collapse today. The good news, no fatalities 5 injuries, from an amateur 's point of view this looks bad.

[Steve 0080]

I would think it would look bad from any view !

[taxfree4]

The one from last year in Manhattan wasn't a complete structural failure at least it maintained some integrity. As I remember the crane in Manhattan was falling in a way, straight down, where the operator was able to try and slow the drop but this one on the Tappan Zee fell sideways, no way to control, not onto a flat surface. I'll defer to the in house expert BIGLRY.

[BIGLRY]

As a 31 yr. federal & state certified, retired crane operator(Operating Engineers Local 12) and lover of the engineering and physics that allow them to make massive lifts to great heights it breaks my heart to see that or hear about any crane failures, lattice or hydraulic. I can only say I'm glad no one was killed especially the operator as they usually have no place to go and are found at the bottom of the ugly heap of twisted metal found when a crane fails.
From what I can find out the crane was hosting a vibratory hammer that was putting in pilings, a very easy and normal operation not a high risk move or lift. Without knowing any more and pure speculation on my part... since I have done the exact type work many times I suspect a mechanical failure in the 'draw works' of the crane.

[taxfree4]

As a 31 yr. federal & state certified, retired crane operator(Operating Engineers Local 12) and lover of the engineering and physics that allow them to make massive lifts to great heights it breaks my heart to see that or hear about any crane failures, lattice or hydraulic. I can only say I'm glad no one was killed especially the operator as they usually have no place to go and are found at the bottom of the ugly heap of twisted metal found when a crane fails.
From what I can find out the crane was hosting a vibratory hammer that was putting in pilings, a very easy and normal operation not a high risk move or lift. Without knowing any more and pure speculation on my part... since I have done the exact type work many times I suspect a mechanical failure in the 'draw works' of the crane.

Now that I'm looking at it it didn't fall sideways because it would have to be facing the pilings to drive them home with the hammer. That's why it's good to have an expert.

[BIGLRY]

It looks like it might be a Manitowoc 11000 or 11000-1, this 100 ton crawler is one of Manitowoc's new small crawler cranes.
Features
• 100 ton capacity
• 200 ft. heavy-lift boom
• Max boom + jib combination: 190 ft. + 60 ft
• 285 HP engine
• 535 fpm maximum line speed
• 25,200 lb. rated line pull

A fun and easy crane to run.