18.10.2016
Buckled crane boom
A 1,200 tonne telescopic crane lost its boom yesterday while lifting a fully assembled rotor into position at a wind farm in DeKalb County, Missouri.
Please register to see all images
The scene shortly after the incident occured
The crane, a Liebherr LTM 11200-9.1, appears to have been working with four sections partially extended, topped by a short heavy duty jib and Y-Guy superlift in place. The wind, said to be gusting to around 25mph caught the rotor and pulled the boom sideways to the point where the excessive lateral forces caused it to buckle. Fortunately the crane base appears to have been stable enough that it remained on its outriggers and no one was hurt in the incident.
Please register to see all images
The crane dropped a large rotor assembly
We understand that the crane, owned by TNT was working with a crew from White Construction to assemble the turbine, one of 97 on the Osborn Wind Energy Center site near St Joseph, being developed by Next Era Energy Resources of Florida. It is due to be completed before the end of the year.
Mike Behringer of White Construction told local reporters that construction has been halted at the site, following the incident. He added: “The only thing I want to say is there are absolutely no injuries.” An investigation is underway.
Please register to see all images
The crane was rigged with Y-Guy and a heavy jib
Late reaction on this article, I'm very busy you know.
We don't have all the details about the root cause of this accident but when crane company's/engineers/operators take a look at the crane wind charts and take the load sail area, weight of the load, wind resistance of the load, maximum allowable wind speeds for that crane configuration etcetera in account, than this should not happen. I always ask all that information and I always ask the crane operator if he's feeling comfortable with all that before I approve a lift plan or before I approve the lift. A lattice boom crane maybe can have more lateral forces, depends the configuration, but is also limited.
Orabeel
I was joking (honest) and by the way have you heard that they have taking the word 'Gullible' out of the Oxford English Dictionary now ?
One serious question I do have here - and I hope my crane driving friends could answer this - is a wind gusting issue like this - would a lattice boomed crane have survived this situation better than a telescopic boomed crane - given that they would both be rated to safely lift the load under ideal conditions ?
orrabeel
Gobsmacked, do people like this really exist ????
Why is it that they always site these turbines in such windy locations? Must make lifting operations a real challenge! And they are always on top of hills with poor access roads... if they put them in cit areas with good roads and tall buildings to provide shelter from the wind, things would be so much safer and easier for everyone and they could use shorter cables to connect them to the mains grid too.... another saving ! Sometimes I amaze myself how well I can solve the blatantly obvious problems that others just seem to disregard!
Seriously though, thank goodness nobody was hurt!