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07.11.2013

Another one for the trees

A three axle All Terrain crane went over in Fort Collins, Colorado yesterday while lifting a tree from the back yard of a home in the town.
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The crane looks to be well set up


The 50 tonne Grove GMK3050 had its five section 38 metre main boom fully extended and at an angle of around 30 degrees or so. It is equipped with 9.6 tonnes of its 11.6 tonnes maximum counterweight and in this configuration should have a capacity in the region of two tonnes or so.
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The crane was lifting with its full 38m boom


The crane, which was operated by Fine Tree Service, looks to have been well set up with outriggers appearing to be fully extended and decent sized mats in place. So one has to assume that the tree was heavier than expected, and that the overload system was set with full counterweight? Whatever happened an overload situation is to blame – as usual.

Thankfully no one was injured in the incident and even the damage looks light with the boom coming to rest in the branches of a large tree.
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The boom came to rest in the branches of a large tree


UPDATE
The following day A 300 tonne Grove GMK 6300 was called in from RMS Cranes of Denver, to help recover the stricken crane, along with a 90 tonne unit to support the outriggers and prevent it the unit from dropping as it was lifted upright. The GMK3050 was then able to retract its boom and drive off under its own power. See local news video of the recovery

Vertikal Comment

Lifting trees!! What more is there to say... One imagines that the crane operator is wishing that he had installed the two missing counterweight slabs now?

Comments

The Uk the only nation to get out smarted by complacency. Given that you have the toughest lifting operation rules in the world why do you keep turning cranes and zoom booms over?

The saying people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones spings to mind .

Nov 9, 2013

Another tree, another crane...Don't underestimate the weight of trees, the one can be heavier than it looks and the other one can be lighter than it looks. I've lifted many trees and counted the double of crane capacity. To expensive for the client? Well he can go hire a smaller crane somewhere.

Nov 8, 2013

Tmayes
America!!! The only nation to get out smarted by trees.

Nov 7, 2013