Pendulum-style rides, similar to the one involved in the recent accident in Saudi Arabia, are also common in Russia. Fortunately, no such incidents have been reported in the Russian Federation to date. This raises critical questions: How are amusement rides technically maintained in Russia, and what specific technical requirements are in place?
A catastrophic incident occurred in Taif, Saudi Arabia, where an amusement ride carrying passengers broke in half and collapsed. The accident resulted in 23 injuries, with three individuals sustaining severe harm. This type of pendulum-like attraction is prevalent globally, including in numerous Russian cities. The event prompts a closer examination of potential causes for such failures and the broader safety challenges within the amusement park industry, particularly in the Russian market.
The ride that failed in Saudi Arabia is characterized by a large disk-shaped carriage mounted on a long, swinging support arm, which also rotates while swinging. Online records indicate at least two prior incidents involving similar «pendulum-plate» attractions in 2019, occurring in Uzbekistan and India. In all three cases, the main support structure holding the seated carriage fractured. The exact cause of the Saudi Arabian malfunction remains unclear, as video footage lacks sufficient detail to analyze the nuances of the ride`s construction, according to Andrey Petrenko, CEO of Marstar and a judicial and technical expert in the entertainment and recreation industry.
«The reasons could stem from several factors. Firstly, it might be a design flaw by the manufacturer or an error during production. Secondly, the regulatory oversight of such attractions in Saudi Arabia is not transparent, nor is the specific age of the ride evident from the video — whether it`s new, ten years old, or three years old. Defects could also simply emerge due to prolonged operation. Thirdly, poor technical maintenance is a strong possibility. Every ride is accompanied by operational documentation detailing mandatory daily, weekly, monthly, semi-annual, and annual maintenance requirements. It`s uncertain if these procedures were followed. This is a complex ride; in Russia, it`s classified as RB-1, indicating a high degree of potential biomechanical risk. The manufacturer should have specified critical components and welded joints that require non-destructive testing. The question is whether such tests were actually conducted.»
— Andrey Petrenko, CEO of Marstar, Judicial and Technical Expert in Entertainment and Recreation Industry
While similar pendulum-style attractions are present in major Russian amusement parks such as Divo-Ostrov in St. Petersburg, Sochi Park, and Dream Island in Moscow, the root cause of failures often lies in technical condition rather than the operating principle itself. Fortunately, no similar pendulum-ride incidents have occurred in Russia. However, a notable amusement ride accident two years ago in Orenburg involved the collapse of a «Chain Carousel,» injuring 20 people, highlighting broader safety issues within the industry.
Vladimir Gnezdilov, President of the Russian Association of Parks and Amusement Ride Manufacturers, points to a significant problem in the Russian market: the procurement of Chinese-made rides. He asserts that these rides often do not undergo adequate inspection, and owners subsequently modify them. Furthermore, Russia`s technical regulations on amusement ride safety lack specific mandatory requirements, with all existing standards being voluntary. This means that if a ride is purchased from a foreign manufacturer, there is no legal basis to demand its compliance with Russian safety standards.
«These standards must be legally binding, not merely voluntarily applied. This norm needs to be enshrined in federal technical regulation law. Only then will we establish a comprehensive framework to meticulously inspect any ride—be it Chinese, Vietnamese, or American—within the Russian Federation, thereby ensuring product safety. Without this, all new products will lack mandatory conformity assessment requirements. Secondly, there are considerably more used rides in the country than new ones currently being put into operation. The situation with pre-owned rides is equally problematic: there`s an utterly inadequate decree concerning technical requirements for them, and safety oversight during market entry or commissioning is simply not enforced.»
— Vladimir Gnezdilov, President of the Russian Association of Parks and Amusement Ride Manufacturers
A «360-degree» attraction, similar to the one that failed in Saudi Arabia, can be found for sale on Russian websites for 36 million rubles (approximately $380,000 USD). The manufacturer is not specified, but promotional images featuring hieroglyphs suggest it is not of domestic Russian origin.
