Explanation of Whistler Excalibur Gondola Collapse
Received from Whistler Blackcomb via email today:
WHISTLER BLACKCOMB OPERATIONS TO RESUME FOLLOWING
BC SAFETY AUTHORITY SECONDARY INSPECTION
December 17, 2008 – The British Columbia Safety Authority (BCSA), BC’s
independent auditor on passenger ropeway systems, has given approval
for Whistler Blackcomb to continue regular operations on its mountain
lifts, with the exception of the Excalibur Gondola.
“Preliminary
inspection by BC safety officers has determined that this was an
isolated incident of water contamination in a tower tube which caused a
tower joint flange to fail due to ice jacking,” said Greg Paddon,
safety manager from the BC Safety Authority. “There is no justification
at this time that other installations operating at Whistler Blackcomb
have been effected by a similar failure; the BC Safety Authority does
not anticipate rescinding operating permits on any lifts currently
operating at Whistler Blackcomb other than the upper and lower
Excalibur Gondola. Investigation into the incident continues on both
the lower and upper Excalibur Gondola; these installations will not
return to service December 17, 2008.” As
always, our top priority is for the safety and well-being of our resort
guests and employees,” says Doug Forseth, senior vice president of
operations. “Whistler Blackcomb delayed opening some of our lifts this
morning until the BCSA confirmed our findings from last night. After
the work conducted throughout last night by our own lift maintenance
team, and a secondary inspection that was completed by the BCSA, access
to all our operational lifts, with the exception of the Excalibur
Gondola, is expected to be available by midday.”
Tuesday afternoon at
approximately 2:30pm, a structural failure on tower 4 of the Excalibur
Gondola caused the gondola to cease operation. All gondola cabins
remained on the line; however a number of the cabins dropped
approximately 30 feet with the sagging span, and two cabins hit the
ground, injuring several people. Twelve guests were treated at the
Whistler Medical Clinic and all walked out on their own accord later
that evening. A total of 53 people were evacuated off the affected
lower line of the gondola. The evacuation was completed by 5:51pm.
Several factors
converged to cause the tower failure. The structure of the tower is
such that two parts are spliced together. Water had seeped into the
tower which had turned to ice with the recent extreme cold
temperatures. The ice build-up caused the tower splice to rupture, an
extremely unusual situation referred to as “ice-jacking”. Further
investigation by a team of lift manufacturer and independent
engineering experts will take place early afternoon today.“
Following
BCSA’s inspection, the following lifts are now clear to open: Emerald
Express, Big Red Express and Franz’s Chair, in addition to the Whistler
Village Gondola and the Creekside Gondola on Whistler Mountain. Wizard
Express, Solar Coaster and Excelerator on Blackcomb. Crews have now
moved to the Jersey Cream Express and Glacier Express on Blackcomb and
both those are expected to be cleared shortly.
The Excalibur Gondola
is a Doppelmayr lift, and was installed in 1994. A world-leader in lift
design and manufacturing, Doppelmayr lifts are in operation throughout
the world and their safety record is excellent.
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