City investigators say the Hell’s Kitchen crane collapse in July 2023 was preventable because similar failures with the same type of crane had already happened overseas years earlier.

The collapse not only caused damage and delays during the height of the early morning commute, but also changed how cranes are regulated citywide.

According to a report from the city's Department of Buildings, the crane was lifting about 14,000 pounds of concrete when a hose carrying hydraulic fluid likely came loose. Once disconnected, the flammable liquid sprayed, reaching a hot engine surface and catching fire.

The city now requires stronger leak inspections, built-in fire detection, and automatic fire suppression systems on all diesel-powered tower cranes.

As the fire burned, it weakened the rope th

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