Causality

The Engineered Network

Chain of Events. Cause and Effect. We analyse what went right and what went wrong as we discover that many outcomes can be predicted, planned for and even prevented. read less
Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

53: Callide C Blackout
Mar 30 2024
53: Callide C Blackout
In 2021 the Callide C Power Station experienced a unit failure that tore the turbine-generator apart, resulted in hundreds of thousands of premises losing power, and cost hundreds of millions to repair. We look at how design errors and ultimately a lack of information led to the incident escalating out of control, when it could have been recovered.With John Chidgey.Formal Reports: Callide Unit C4 Turbine Generator Failure 25 May 2021 (PDF)Animation of the Callide Unit C4 incidentTrip of multiple generators and lines in Central Queensland and associated under-frequency load shedding on 25 May 2021 (PDF) News Releases and Articles: CS Energy releases report into 2021 Callide C4 Unit FailureCS Energy releases technical report into 2021 Unit C4 incidentDr Sean Brady to lead independent investigation into Callide incidentBattery failure led to power plant mass outageBoth units trip at Callide C on Wednesday 13th January 2021Statement regarding IG PowerIntergen voluntary administrationReport says Callide C4 incident “could not have been anticipated”Callide explosion blamed on battery charger failureCallide Power Trading taken to court over system failureCS Energy says insurers won’t agree to $300m claim over power stationJim Soorley stands down from CS EnergyCS Energy Post about Incident on LinkedIn Super-Critical Boilers: Super-Critical Boiler Technology (PDF)Supercritical FluidsSupercritical Coal Plants Electrical Engineering References: Hydrogen-cooled Turbo GeneratorReverse Active Power Protection (ANSI 32P) Court Action: Alleged failure to obtain regulatory approval to operate a generating systemNotice of Filing: Australian Energy Regulator v Callide Power Trading Pty Ltd (PDF)Coal generator to face court over blackouts caused by catastrophic explosion General Information: Callide Power StationStanwell Power StationTarong Power StationCallide Power StationCS Energy: Water Management NOTE: Minor Corrections in audio updated: 31st March, 2024 Support Causality on PatreonEpisode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Jared Roman, Joel Maher, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Ian Gallagher.
50: 737 MAX Ethiopian Air
Apr 22 2023
50: 737 MAX Ethiopian Air
Five months after Lion Air 610 crashed, another 737-MAX went down with a similar cause. However the official report was at odds with two other internationally respected investigative organisations. We dig into the detail of how the AOA Sensor was claimed to have failed, and review checklist discrepancies to extract fact from opinion as to what most likely triggered this horrible chain of events.With John Chidgey.This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced Celebrating Causality’s 50th Episode!! Previous Episode: Causality Episode 33: 737 MAX Reports: EAIB: Aircraft Accident Investigation Report B737- MAX 8, ET-AVJ December 2022 (PDF)US Comments: ET302 Report March 2022 (PDF)US Comments: Response to EAIB Final Report (PDF)BEA: Accident du Boeing 737 immatriculé ET-AVJ et exploité par Ethiopian Airlines survenu le 10/03/2019 près de BishoftuBEA: Incidents to the Boeing 737 - 800 registered F-GZHO operated by Transavia France on 07/02/2018 at Norwich (United Kingdom) and 08/02/2018 at Paris-OrlyBEA: Incidents to the Boeing 737 - 800 registered F-GZHO operated by Transavia France (PDF)ICAO Annex 13: Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation (PDF) General Information: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302Addis Ababa Bole International AirportJomo Kenyatta International AirportRotation (Aeronautics)Ground Proximity Warning SystemBoeing 737 MAX GroundingsFederal Aviation AdministrationImpact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on AviationFinancial Impact of the Boeing 737 MAX GroundingsICAON1 and N2March 10, 2019 Historical Weather at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, EthiopiaET-AVJ Flight Tracking and HistoryCollins AOA Systems (PDF)Auto-Throttle and Auto-ThrustB737 Autothrottle (A/T) Normal and Non-Normal OperationsAirworthiness Directives Articles: The BEA Weighs In: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302Controversy Surrounds Final Report on Ethiopian Air Flight 302More Omissions In Ethiopian 737 MAX ReportUS NTSB Criticises Ethiopian MAX ReportHouse passes bill to reform plane certification process after two Boeing 737 Max crashesGovernment of Canada introduces additional requirements to allow for the return to service of the Boeing 737 MAX  - Canada.caEASA Decision Not to Adopt FAA AD 2020-24-02 (PDF) Regulations: Aircraft Certification Reform and Accountability ActFAA Proposes New Policy that Would Fulfill One of the Key Requirements of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act | Federal Aviation AdministrationPost MCAS Law ChangesBoeing 737 Airworthiness DirectivesAirworthiness Directive 2018-23-51 (PDF)Airworthiness Directive 2020-24-02 (PDF)FAA: Boeing 737 MAX Reading RoomTransport Canada: Boeing 737-MAX-8 Litigation: Boeing to pay more than $2.5 billion to settle criminal conspiracy charge over 737 MaxBoeing Charged with 737 Max Fraud Conspiracy and Agrees to Pay over $2.5 BillionBoeing Directors Settle Shareholder Lawsuit Over 737 MAX Crashes For $237.5 MillionBoeing: Directors to face investor lawsuit over fatal crashesBoeing, FAA slammed in House report over deadly 737 Max failuresBoeing agrees deal with families of Ethiopia crash victimsBoeing to compensate victims in Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash Support Causality on PatreonEpisode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Jared Roman, Joel Maher, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Dave Jones and Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto.
48: Instituto Goiano de Radioterapia
Nov 18 2022
48: Instituto Goiano de Radioterapia
When a radiation therapy machine was left behind during a move between buildings in central Brazil, it set in motion a series of events that would lead to one of the worst radiological incidents in history. We look into how bureaucracy and misdiagnosis cost four people their lives and how the actions of a concerned mother with no medical experience, saved the lives of countless more.With John Chidgey.This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced Create your own Credited Soundbite Official Report: The Radiological Accident in Goiânia (PDF) Links of Interest: Goiânia AccidentIGR - Instituto Goiano de RadiologiaTeletherapy CapsuleBecquerelThe Goiânia IncidentCaesiumGray Other Reports and Articles: The most rambling and insane nuclear accident in history (Italian)Doctors and the radioactive accident (Portugese)Notes on nuclear energy. What lawyers should know about nuclear technology (Spanish)Goiânia Brazil 1987 - Rick On TheaterCaesium Radiation Goiania Brazil - 1102The blue powder entranced…then it killed…The Response to Technological Accidents: The Case of Radioactive Accident in Goiania (PDF) (Portugese) News Articles: Victims of Radiation Ostracised in BrazilA Brazilian burglar stole a capsule…The Perception of Individuals Involved in the Accident With Caesium-137Two Radiation Victims DieThe Goiâna Incident - NCT Magazine Related Incidents: List of orphan source incidentsSamut Prakan radiation accidentOrigin of Cobalt-60 traced to Delhi University1962 Mexico City radiation accident Support Causality on PatreonEpisode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Kevin Koch, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Jared, Joel Maher, Katharina Will, Dave Jones and Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto.With thanks to Shane O'Neill for the topic suggestion.
47: Hyatt Regency Kansas City
Jul 15 2022
47: Hyatt Regency Kansas City
The tallest building in Missouri with a large atrium perfect for big bands and dancing, hosted a regular Tea Dance in the summer of 1981. When two walkways collapsed killing over a hundred people, the investigators found multiple fundamental design errors. We look at how assumptions, redrafting conventions and negligence led to an incident that has become the case study in how not to do civil structural design.With John Chidgey.This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced Create your own Credited Soundbite Links of Interest: Tea danceFast-track constructionSheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown CenterHyatt Regency Walkway CollapseStrength Requirements by GradesAll Thread RodWide Flange Beam Dimensions ChartObituary for Jack D. GillumHotel Horror from Kansas City HistoryThe Engineer of Record and Design Responsibility Engineering Analysis: Investigation of the Kansas City Hyatt Regency Walkways Collapse (Link to PDF)Understanding the Tragic Hyatt Regency Walkway CollapseHyatt Regency Walkway Collapse 1981Hyatt Regency Walkway CollapseThe Hyatt Regency Disaster RevisitedHyatt Regency Walkway CollapseEthics in Engineering Practice and Research by Caroline WhitbeckChronology And Context Of The Hyatt Regency Collapse by Gregory P. Luth (PDF) News Articles: The Kansas City Hyatt Disaster 30 Years LaterCollapse Did Not Involve Safety ViolationsWalkway Swayed To The Rhythm Of Dancers18th July 1981 Hyatt collapseHyatt Regency Skywalk Collapse Memorial Dedicated In 20151981 Hyatt Regency Walkway CollapseHyatt Regency Collapse Remains Among The Deadliest In USA HistoryEngineers Are Held At Fault In 1981 Hotel Disaster Support Causality on PatreonEpisode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Kevin Koch, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Hafthor, Jared, Bill, Joel Maher, Katharina Will and Dave Jones.
46: Mindbender
May 16 2022
46: Mindbender
The longest, tallest, fastest indoor rollercoaster in the world was only open six months when the last carriage of a train came loose, killing three people and all that the day following an inspection that the ride was safe to operate. We look at how a design choice made maintenance more critical and then how wishing for a ride to be safe, doesn't really help.With John Chidgey.This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced Links of Interest: MindbenderGeoffrey Kulak (Archive.org)Mindbender (Galaxyland)Triple Five GroupRoller coaster wheel assembly BogieSchwarzkopf GmbH6 Reasons Why Bolts Fail & How To Prevent ItTesting for Amusement Rides and Theme Parks TÜV SÜD Videos: Tragedy on the Mindbender (Video)Mindbender Accident Inquiry - Film & Video Stock (Video) News Articles: Coaster Ride’s Mastermind FiredRoller-coaster goes at full tiltMindbender 25 Years Later (Archive.org)Roller-coaster Derailment Kills ThreeSurvivor of 1986 mall coaster crash wants memorial3 Hurled to Death in Canada as Roller Coaster Derails in MallAuthorities today investigated a weekend triple-loop ‘Mindbender’ roller coaster3 Killed in RollerCoaster Crash[Mall Owner Blames Manufacturer’s Defect for Roller Coaster Deaths (Dead Link)](LINK DEFUNCT “Original Link: https://apnews.com/8be3b0f7291c22472aa8c00790de1358") Rollercoaster Articles: 31 years ago today, the Mindbender rollercoaster at WEM crashed10 Deadliest Roller Coaster AccidentsList of incidents at independent amusement parksAmusement Ride AccidentsThe Mindbender Fantasy Roller Coaster Accident in CanadaWorst Coaster Crash?Mindbender - Galaxyland - Roller CoastersMindbender - Galaxyland Amusement ParkAmerican Dreier LoopingMindbender Edmonton (Archive.org)Schwarzkopf (Archive.org)Mindbender - Park VaultAnton SchwarzkopfMindbender (Galaxyland) Legislature Assembly Minutes: 21st Legislature First Session Minutes (PDF) Support Causality on PatreonEpisode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Kevin Koch, Shane O'Neill, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor, Jared, Bill, Joel Maher and Katharina Will.With thanks to Quinton Zaborski for the topic suggestion.
45: Granville
Apr 2 2022
45: Granville
In 1977, a commuter train from the Blue Mountains, destined for Sydney central station would derail just before Granville Station, causing a bridge to collapse and crush many aboard. It remains Australia's worst ever rail disaster that was predicted by 11 engineering department heads just a year earlier. We look at how management decisions led to a completely avoidable disaster.With John Chidgey.This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced Links of Interest: Granville rail disasterThe Day of the RosesPublic Transport Commission of NSWGranville Train Disaster (Archive.org)TurnoutsCityRailAustralia’s worst rail disasterThe Granville Train Disaster AssociationRevisiting the Granville Train Disaster of 1977: Barry GobbeRemembering the Day of the RosesWheel was covered up (Archive.org)45 years since Granville Train DisasterGranville Train Disaster Memorial GardenThe rail disaster that changed AustraliaMixed response as NSW Government apologises for Australia’s worst train disasterGranville Railway DisasterGranville train disaster: victims speak out Formal Investigation Extracts: Formal Investigation State Records AuthorityReport on the formal investigationFormal Investigation extract: Research DataResearch Data Australia Search Informal Investigations: Permanent Way Institution Granville SearchGranville: The Untold StoryThe Granville Train DisasterThe Granville Disaster Video: Granville Train Disaster Documentary (Video) Support Causality on PatreonEpisode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Kevin Koch, Shane O'Neill, Oliver Steele, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor, Jared, Bill, Joel Maher and Katharina Will.
44: Beirut Warehouse 12
Feb 10 2022
44: Beirut Warehouse 12
In Beirut in August of 2020, an explosion at the Port of Beirut destroyed a huge part of the city. We look into how an oxidising agent, improperly handled can become an explosive and attempt to comprehend how something so dangerous was ignored repeatedly by key people, despite many warnings of an imminent disaster.With John Chidgey.This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced Links of Interest: 2020 Beirut ExplosionCondensation CloudPrillANFOAmmonium NitrateHow an unscheduled port visit led to disasterBeirut Ammonium Nitrate BlastGovernment Amends Ammonium Nitrate RulesFBI probe shows amount of chemicals in Beirut blast was a fraction of original shipmentBeirut Whistleblower Returns to WorkIdeal Gas LawGases, Liquids and Solids (PDF) Reports into the incident: Human Rights Watch (PDF)The Beirut Port Explosion, Forensic Architecture Video and Images: Video of Explosion 1 (Twitter)Video of Explosion 2 (Twitter)Video of Wilsons Cloud Ring (Twitter) Documentary: Beirut Blast: The Story Of Warehouse 12 (2021)Beirut Blast: The Story of Warehouse 12 (2021) - IMDb Ammonium Nitrate Information: Storage requirements for security sensitive ammonium nitrate (SSAN) | Resources Safety & Health QueenslandOrica Mining Services, Report for Kooragang Island Uprate PHA MOD1 Report (PDF)Ammonium Nitrate Advisory USEPA (PDF)Orica ANFO MSDS (PDF) Support Causality on PatreonEpisode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Kevin Koch, Shane O'Neill, Oliver Steele, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor, Jared, Bill, Joel Maher and Katharina Will.
41: Florida International University
Jul 8 2021
41: Florida International University
The university wanted a bridge for its students over a busy roadway that would appear intriguing from afar. Instead it collapsed before it was even finished. We look into how design errors, poor peer review and denial led to a collapse that claimed six peoples lives.With John Chidgey.This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced Report into the Incidents: NTSB Final Report (PDF) Design Criteria and Bid: FIU Pedestrian Bridge Design Criteria Rev 0 (PDF)FIU Pedestrian Bridge Design Criteria Rev 1 (PDF)MCM / FIGG Proposal (PDF) Civil Structural References: TrussTruss BridgesSteel Bridge DesignWhat is Post-tensioning?Prestressed, Pretensioned and Post-Tensioned ConcreteEngineer of Record DefinitionNon-Destructive Concrete Evaluation & testing Companies Involved: Louis Berger is now part of WSPWSP GlobalFIGG EngineeringFIGG Bridge Engineers Links of Potential Interest: Florida bridge collapse has some hard lessonsFlorida International University pedestrian bridge collapseUniversity-City Prosperity ProjectMeet the prominent Miami firm behind the collapsed FIU bridgeMiami Bridge Failure Part 3: The Peer ReviewFHWA proposes 10-year debarment for FIGG Bridge EngineersLouis Berger only firm refusing to settle FIU bridge collapseBankrupt construction company that built FIU bridge reaches deal to pay victims $42MLessons learnt 3 years since Florida tragedyFHWA proposes 10-year debarment for FIGG Bridge EngineersJudge Rejects FIGG’s Motion to Halt 10-Year Debarment Riverside Expressway: Glimmer of hope?Riverside Expressway Support Causality on PatreonEpisode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Shane O'Neill, Kevin Koch, Oliver Steele, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor and Bill.