Himalaya amusement rides
CPSC Recall #99-083 — March 22, 1999
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 99-083 |
| Recall Date | March 22, 1999 |
| Remedy Type | Inspect, Repair |
| Units Affected | Approximately 25 |
| Manufacturer | Reverchon Industries, of Samois, France, and Reverchon USA, of Wilsonville, Ore. |
Product
Himalaya amusement rides
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Reverchon Industries, of Samois, France, and Reverchon USA, of Wilsonville, Ore., are offering new inspection and maintenance procedures and secondary restraints for approximately 25 Himalaya amusement rides operating in the U.S. CPSC has received reports of five incidents involving the Himalaya ride resulting in two deaths and three injuries. This repair program is the result of a CPSC investigation of these incidents. Most recently, one rider was killed and two others seriously injured when they were ejected from the ride in Austin, Texas, on March 19, 1998. The component failures appear to be the result of poor maintenance and inspection procedures. These rides should be properly inspected and maintained according to the manufacturer's specifications or serious injury and death to riders can occur. Reverchon is offering ride owners and state safety officials current inspection and maintenance guidelines, and a free tolerance gauge which measures wear on the lap bar latch. Ride operators also must install a speed control device and a secondary lap bar latching device. For more information, owners and state safety officials can contact Reverchon in the USA at (503) 694-2803 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PST Monday through Friday or Reverchon in France at 011-331-6074-9400. CPSC is working with state regulators to ensure that these safety repairs and inspections are carried out. In addition to this repair program, CPSC has issued three safety alerts to states for inspection of the Himalaya rides. While CPSC has jurisdiction over the mobile rides that move from place to place, states and local communities are responsible for inspections and oversight. While most states currently have some mandatory regulations or inspection program to ensure ride safety, the following states have no regulations and do not require that rides be inspected for safety: Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Vermont. The following states have insurance company or other private inspections, but do not require inspections by state or local regulators: Arizona, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas.
Hazard
CPSC has received reports of five incidents involving the Himalaya ride resulting in two deaths and three injuries. The component failures appear to be the result of poor maintenance and inspection procedures.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC has received reports of five incidents involving the Himalaya ride resulting in two deaths and three injuries. This repair program is the result of a CPSC investigation of these incidents. Most recently, one rider was killed and two others seriously injured when they were ejected from the ride in Austin, Texas, on March 19, 1998.
Remedy Instructions
Reverchon is offering ride owners and state safety officials current inspection and maintenance guidelines, and a free tolerance gauge which measures wear on the lap bar latch. Ride operators also must install a speed control device and a secondary lap bar latching device.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Inspect, Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Inspect, Repair) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.