Sutphen Tower Ladder Failure

[jfmuller 23]

http://www.abc15.com...in-green-valley

http://azdailysun.co...c9893b23a4.html

http://www.gvnews.co...19bb2963f4.html

Four civilians and Fire Captain where in a Sutphen Aerial, extending 100' on 45 degree angle, when the bucket suddenly retracted 40 feet. Occupants suffered injuries of which could have been more severe had they not been wearing some type of restraint device.

Members may want to rethink or look over SOP's and adjust for always wearing safety restraints when using the Aerial. Also when making a rescue make sure that stokes basket is secured to the bucket.

Before the comments start that it was overloaded, in the images it appears to be a SPH100 which has a unique waterway, it has a 1000' weight limit and the Sutphen brochure states a 3:1 safety rating. (Huckbee bolts and box frame.) I would assume the cable was rated for the same.

We should hold off judgment of what failed, until after a thorough investigation is finished.

Edit: Spell check, so I don't come off as an Illiterate.

Edited August 22, 2012 by jfmuller

[FDNY 10-75 640]

Interesting, this is the first I have ever heard of a Sutphen aerial failing. I have heard before that the company prides itself in a zero aerial failures.

[grumpyff 1,159]

In the last link provided, it also mentions another incident in Florida where a Sutphen dropped 5 to 10 feet. That was due to a maintenance issue. I wonder if this one was something that could have been prevented thru maintenance/inspection on the part of the department involved.

[LTFIREPRG 154]

Judging from the comments in the last link, it appears that the apparatus was properly maintained in accordance with the Sutphen’s recommendations and that it also received annual ladder testing by a certified company. Seems like it was just a freak failure of the cable. With the design of Sutphen’s boom where the cables are located inside the boom box, it is not that easy, especially on the third section to see any flaws in the cable during routine operations. Maybe the manufacture should look into placing a safety stop that engages when ever the ladder is stopped or if there is a failure and the ladder suddenly starts to retract.