Gravitron Mobile Amusement Ride

CPSC Recall #92-068 — March 18, 1992

Recall Summary

Recall Number92-068
Recall DateMarch 18, 1992
Remedy TypeRepair

Product

Gravitron Mobile Amusement Ride

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C -- In the wake of the accident last summer at the Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Wisdom Manufacturing, Inc. (WMI) are announcing a program to modify the "Gravitron" mobile amusement ride. The ride is a whirling cylinder which uses centrifugal force to hold the riders to their seats as the seats rise, giving the illusion that the floor is dropping out. On August 20, 1991, at the Missouri State Fair, a panel on the ride separated, throwing some patrons onto the midway and injuring 11 children. The program announced today will strengthen the ride design and permit easier visual inspections by ride operators and inspectors. "These changes must be made to ensure riders' safety," said CPSC Chairman Jacqueline Jones-Smith. The modifications require ride operators and/or inspectors to: - Install turntable safety plates, - Install corner pin reinforcement plates, - Install an inside strap to the bottom frame, - Note additions and changes to operators manual, - Check and replace floor pins, if necessary, - Inspect the panel bottom hole, for cracking, - Trim carpet for easier floor pin inspection. Since several states including Missouri, where the accident occurred, have no state inspection requirements, it is especially important that ride operators participate in the modification program. For information on the program, operators and inspectors should contact WMI directly at 303-522-7515 or CPSC's Office of Compliance and Enforcement at 301-504-7913.

Hazard

This ride poses a hazard for injury.

Incidents & Injuries

On August 20, 1991, at the Missouri State Fair, a panel on the ride separated, throwing some patrons onto the midway and injuring 11 children.

Remedy Instructions

The program announced today will strengthen the ride design and permit easier visual inspections by ride operators and inspectors.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a 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 (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.