I don’t know how the people at One57 got themselves into this mess and I do know they have their work cut out getting out of it. There will be a thorough investigation and it’s not my place to say what may or may not have happened. I will make some observations at the risk of probable future admonishment. I hope only allay fears of a similar situation at The L Tower.
If a luffing jib crane is parked at approximately 60 degrees and allowed to weather vane (no swing brakes applied), this failure is highly unlikely. It’s clear from the photo that the boom of the One57 crane has been forced over the back of the crane. It’s easy to suggest that this was due to wind. If a luffing jib (Boom) crane has been parked at an appropriate boom angle (60 degrees) and the swing brakes are open, the boom will face in the direction of the wind and it will not blow over the back. A luffing crane under power with multiple limit switch failures can pull itself over the back. I don’t think this has happened in this case. Catastrophic failure is always possible and new ways to cause it come up all the time. Don’t expect anything like this at the L Tower. This thread will provide hundreds of pictures of the L Tower crane blowing in the wind at 60 degrees.
CNN has a live feed of this situation and the tip of the failed boom can be seen moving slightly back and forth. At the risk of stating the obvious, this is not over yet. A brief description of metal fatigue will help explain what I mean. Grab an empty beer can by the top and bottom and try to pull it apart. Not happening. Crush it a little and then fold it back and forth a few times and you’re Hulk Hogan. It rips apart like paper. The constant motion of the already bent steel in the collapsed boom will more than likely produce more drama. Steveve should keep his distance.
