When are Carowinds roller coasters like Fury 325 inspected for maintenance, safety?
One of the most popular roller coasters at Carowinds is still shut down after a crack was discovered on one of the pillars that holds part of it hundreds of feet off the ground.
Fury 325, one of the tallest, fastest, longest roller coasters in North America, has been closed since Friday, when the crack was reported. The 325-foot tall tall ride debuted in 2015 featuring a 1.2-mile track and speeds of to 95 mph.
Park officials said that its maintenance team is conducting a thorough inspection, and the ride won’t be open until repairs have been completed, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. Inspectors from the North Carolina Department of Labor’s Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau are also investigating Fury 325 and its damages.
Who inspects Carowinds roller coasters?
Because Carowinds is on the North Carolina-South Carolina state line, each ride’s state inspection is completed by the state where it is located. So Fury 325, nestled on the North Carolina side of the park, is licensed and inspected yearly by the North Carolina Department of Labor prior to opening.
“Our Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau said the ride has not been problematic in the past,” an NCDOL spokesperson told The Charlotte Observer of the Fury 325. The Observer also requested previous inspection files for the roller coaster conducted since its opening.
Carowinds also conducts its own inspections
Carowinds says many of its rides and attractions are designed and built by some of the best ride manufacturers in the world and inspected every day by park employees.
It’s not clear when the crack on the roller coaster occurred or whether inspectors missed it.
“Mechanics and electricians cycle the rides unoccupied each morning to ensure the ride and its systems are functioning properly,” the park website says about ride safety. “Ride associates also conduct operation tests each day prior to opening, including running a cycle with an associate, to examine the experience and cleanliness. The rides also undergo additional weekly and monthly inspections.”
Park officials say employees look for several elements during inspections, including restraint systems, ride structures, ride control and drive systems.
There’s ride maintenance in the off-season, too, the park says.
“During the few months the park is closed, our rides and maintenance associates are busy dismantling, cleaning, inspecting, and repairing the rides to ensure they are in top shape for the next season,” the Carowinds website says.
State investigation at Carowinds
At this time, it’s still unclear what exactly caused part of the ride to break.
“We will be able to make a full assessment and provide further information as it becomes available,” a spokesperson for the state Department of Labor told The Charlotte Observer. “Safety always has been and always will be our top priority at the North Carolina Department of Labor.”
It’s also unclear how long an investigation could take and when the ride will be repaired and reopened.
This story was originally published July 3, 2023 at 3:53 PM with the headline "When are Carowinds roller coasters like Fury 325 inspected for maintenance, safety?."
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