02.01.2013

Christmas tree buckles crane boom

The boom of a mobile crane buckled this morning while removing the large Christmas tree from the top of the Macys store in Atlanta, Georgia this morning.

No one was hurt in the incident and apart from a glass awning, damage appears minor to the building although the crane’s fly section has buckled completely. The crane, a Link Belt, was rigged with fully extended main boom plus swingaway extension to lift the 20 metre high Georgia pine tree.
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The crane was working with full boom and swingaway when the fly section buckled

It looks as though the boom was subjected to an excessive side loading and/or overloading.

This is not the first time there has been an issue with the Macy’s tree, in 2011 the tree snapped while being lifted into place and was taken away and replaced a few days later. It is clearly a job that has some sort of jinx on it.
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Damage appears to be minor