Commissioner suggests a crack in a North Carolina roller coaster appeared 6-10 days before closure

According to an ongoing investigation conducted by the Department of Labor in North Carolina, a significant crack in a support column of a towering roller coaster was visible for at least a week before the amusement park decided to shut it down for repairs.

In an interview with The Big Big News, Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson stated that pictures taken approximately six to ten days prior indicated the initial formation of the crack. By the following Friday, the crack had completely severed the column. The incident prompted scrutiny of the Charlotte-based Carowinds amusement park after a video circulated online, revealing an operational roller coaster with a prominent crack in one of its columns. The footage depicted Fury 325, a “giga coaster” known for its towering height of 325 feet (99 meters), with a crucial support beam bending and visibly detached as cars, carrying unsuspecting passengers, zoomed by at speeds of up to 95 mph (150 kph).

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Carowinds, situated on the border between North Carolina and South Carolina, has disclosed plans to repair the ride and introduce additional inspection protocols. As of now, the park spokesperson has not responded to requests for comment regarding the commissioner’s remarks.

Following an investigation conducted by the park’s maintenance team and the ride manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard based in Switzerland, it was determined that a fracture had formed along a weld line in one of the steel support columns. The park intends to remove and replace the damaged column, with a new one engineered by the same manufacturer expected to arrive next week.

The crack was initially brought to the park’s attention by a visitor, leading to the closure of Fury 325 towards the end of last week. While the North Carolina Department of Labor investigators inspected the site on Monday and Wednesday, other attractions within the park remained open. The investigation findings have not been released by the department yet.

Commissioner Dobson, a Republican, expressed satisfaction with Carowinds’ efforts to address the crack and enhance routine inspection procedures. However, his department continues to investigate the cause of the crack and why the ride remained operational for as long as it did.

During the repair process, Carowinds plans to conduct accelerometer tests to measure the structure’s vibrations using sensors. The park intends to operate the ride for 500 full cycles while conducting various tests on the entire coaster. A final inspection will be carried out by the manufacturer and a third-party testing firm.

In a statement, the park affirmed its commitment to implementing additional inspection procedures, including the regular use of drones equipped with cameras to inspect difficult-to-reach areas.

The reopening date for the ride has not yet been determined.

Commissioner Dobson emphasized, “We’re going to take as long as it takes,” adding that the issuance of a new certificate of operation will only occur when they are completely confident in the coaster’s safety.

Hannah Schoenbaum is a corps member for the Big Big News/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about roller coaster investigation

More about roller coaster investigation

• Video: Fury 325 Roller Coaster with Crack
• Carowinds Amusement Park
• Department of Labor, North Carolina
• Bolliger & Mabillard (ride manufacturer)