Month: October 2024

New York City’s Hidden Randel Bolt

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

In the early 1800s, surveyor John Randel Jr. embarked on a monumental task: transforming New York City
into the orderly, gridded metropolis we know today. Armed with metal bolts and marble slabs, Randel Jr.
traversed the island, marking nearly 1,000 proposed intersections. Despite facing opposition from angry
landowners and enduring countless setbacks, his vision laid the foundation for modern Manhattan.
Today, finding Randel Jr.’s original bolts has become a treasure hunt for history buffs and surveying
enthusiasts. The only authenticated bolt, discovered in Central Park in 2004 by geography professor Reuben
Rose-Redwood and surveyor J. R. Lemuel Morrison, remains a closely guarded secret to protect it from theft
or damage.

These bolts represent more than just historical artifacts; they symbolize the “politics of mapping” and the
complex relationship between progress and personal loss. While the grid system ushered in a new era for
New York City, it also meant the destruction of homes and livelihoods for many Manhattanites.
Intrepid explorers continue to scour the city’s parks, armed with Randel Jr.’s old maps and a keen eye for the
unusual. Rumors of additional bolts and even a surviving marble monument circulate among the surveying
community, but the Central Park bolt remains the only officially recognized relic.

At Tsamouris, we highlight the significance of these hidden treasures and the stories they tell about the
evolution of our cities. Our commitment to providing high-quality fasteners is rooted in the belief that even
the smallest components can play a crucial role in shaping the world around us.

Broken Bolts on New York’s USD 4 Billion Mario Cuomo Bridge

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

New York’s USD 3.9 billion (EUR 3.6 billion) Mario Cuomo Bridge has been mired in controversy since its
opening in 2017, with allegations of faulty bolts and a potential cover-up by the construction consortium,
Tappan Zee Constructors (TZC). Despite assurances from TZC and the New York Thruway Authority that the
bridge is safe, concerns persist about the structural integrity of the span.

In 2018, a whistleblower claimed that engineers secretly replaced failing bolts to hide the faults from
inspectors. The New York attorney general’s office launched an investigation into the alleged 60 failed bolts
out of the more than one million used in the bridge’s construction.

TZC maintains that all bolt testing indicates no issues and that the bridge is completely safe for the traveling
public. The company spent over USD 1 million (EUR 921,000) on expert assessments and testing,
concluding that a small percentage of bolts had manufacturing defects that led to breakage during
tightening.

In 2021, a federal review by the Federal Highway Administration found “no safety concerns” with the bridge,
according to the Thruway Authority. However, an outside bridge expert cited in a report by The Albany Times
Union called the volume of bolt failures “unprecedented and highly alarming.”

Despite the controversy, TZC stresses that the bridge was built with numerous redundancies to prevent a
collapse, even if some bolts were to fail. The most recent inspection found only one failed bolt out of
hundreds of thousands.

Jesus Nut

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

The “Jesus nut,” a term coined by American soldiers during the Vietnam War, refers to the main rotor
retaining nut that holds the main rotor to the mast of some helicopters. This single component is so critical
that if it were to fail mid-flight, the consequences would be catastrophic, with the rotor detaching from the
helicopter.

The origin of the term is a grim reminder of the importance of this fastener. Soldiers believed that if the Jesus
nut failed, the only thing left to do would be to pray to Jesus, as a crash would be inevitable. The term has
since been applied more broadly to any single component, such as a bolt, whose failure would lead to the
complete breakdown of a system.

Despite the rarity of actual Jesus nut failures, the component must be rigorously checked before each flight.
In one tragic incident in 2000, a Bell 206B helicopter crashed within ten minutes of takeoff, after the mast nut
was removed for repainting and not properly restored and checked prior to the test flight.

Weak Bolts Troubled Brooklyn’s Barclays Center

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

Just a month before the Barclays Center’s grand opening in New York in September 2013, engineers
discovered a potentially serious issue: nearly a quarter of the bolts anchoring the arena’s distinctive steel
panels were weaker than specified. The discovery raised concerns about the structure’s integrity and
sparked a race to replace the subpar fasteners before the inaugural event.

The Barclays Center, with its weathered steel facade and striking canopy, was designed to make a bold
statement about Brooklyn’s resurgence. However, the project faced numerous challenges, including the
abrupt shutdown of the panel fabricator midway through the job and occasional instances of rusty orange
drips staining the sidewalks.

Engineers determined that only 8% of the 23,351 bolts needed replacement, but the issue raised questions
about communication between the arena’s developer, Forest City Ratner, and city regulators. The Buildings
Department claimed it had not been notified of the bolt problem, while Forest City maintained it had
submitted a letter outlining the issue and the planned fix.

Despite the last-minute bolt replacement, the Barclays Center opened on time and withstood Hurricane
Sandy’s winds just a month later. The project’s executive vice president for construction downplayed the
issue, asserting that such problems are not uncommon in highly customized architectural projects.

At Tsamouris, we supply the largest construction companies in Greece with the highest quality screws,
ensuring that problems are avoided and the strictest building standards are maintained.

300-Million-Year-Old Alien Screw?

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

A mysterious object resembling a screw embedded in a rock has sparked intense speculation since its
discovery in the 1990s in Russia’s Kaluga region. While some believe the “screw” could be evidence of
advanced ancient civilizations or even alien technology, experts suggest a more down-to-earth explanation.
The “screw,” measuring approximately an inch long (2,54 centimeters), was found by a UFO and paranormal
research team called the Kosmopoisk Group. They claim the stone is between 300 and 320 million years old
and contains another hidden “screw” inside, as revealed by X-rays.

However, without detailed information or the opportunity for conventional scientists to examine the object
firsthand, speculation has been based on grainy online photos. The leading hypothesis is that the “screw” is
actually the fossilized remains of an ancient sea creature called a crinoid, with the rock forming around the
gradually dissolving creature, creating a screw-like impression.

Crinoids, now largely extinct, were abundant millions of years ago, and their fossils often resemble screws.
Some argue that the size and markings of the “screw” don’t match typical crinoid stalks, leading to more farfetched
theories involving ancient advanced technology or alien visitors.

Fasteners Broke off Wing during Southwest Airlines Flight

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

Passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight from Austin to Harlingen, Texas, in December 2015 experienced a
harrowing ordeal when a piece of the wing allegedly “fell off” during the journey. The Boeing 737, carrying
109 passengers and five crew members, was forced to make an emergency landing at San Antonio Airport.

Passenger Lorenzo Hernandez Jr. described the incident as a “near death experience,” recounting how
fasteners on the left side of the plane’s wing broke or came off, causing a panel to hang loose. He reported
that some passengers screamed to the aircrew as the plane experienced severe turbulence, with many
praying in the cabin.

Despite the frightening situation, Hernandez praised the staff and pilots for keeping calm and stabilizing the
plane. A Southwest spokesperson confirmed that the captain decided to divert the flight due to a flap track
canoe fairing appearing at an irregular angle. The aircraft landed safely without incident, and no injuries
were reported.

Another passenger, Hayden Ellis, recalled the pilot announcing over the tannoy that something had fallen off
the wing, while Clarissa Ellis mentioned that a flight attendant was alerted to the issue by a concerned
passenger.

Washington Metro Derailment Probe Finds Loose Bolts on Brakes

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

Washington, DC, Metro has implemented new safety protocols following a derailment near Reagan National
Airport in September 2023. Investigations suggest the derailment was caused by a brake disc that had fallen
onto the track from another train due to loose bolts. The incident involved a 7000-series train with 43
passengers onboard, prompting a thorough inspection of Metro’s older rail cars.

Inspections revealed that approximately 6% of brake discs on Metro’s oldest cars had issues with loose or
defective bolts. In response, Metro now requires a torque check of bolts on its older cars every 60 days,
surpassing industry recommendations.

The derailment, which occurred when the 7000-series train hit a brake disc that had fallen from a preceding
3000-series train, damaged 310 feet (94 meters) of track and required extensive repairs. Metro workers had
to drill nearly 500 holes, install new studs, and replace over 240 rail fasteners to restore the track.
At Tsamouris, our commitment to providing top-tier bolts and fasteners reflects our dedication to public
safety and infrastructure integrity.

Missing Bolts Contributed to Brooklyn F Train Derailment

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

Four missing high-strength Grade 8 bolts are at the center of the MTA’s investigation into the January 10,
2024, derailment of an F train in Coney Island, Brooklyn. The bolts, which were meant to secure a critical
component called the “radius arm” to the train’s undercarriage, were discovered missing from the derailed
car.

Radius arms play a crucial role in keeping a subway car’s wheels and axles properly aligned during
movement. Experts warn that a fallen or broken radius arm can lead to a derailment.

While the cause of the derailment is still under investigation, with track issues and other factors not yet ruled
out, the MTA believes the missing bolts may have contributed to the incident. It remains unclear whether the
bolts broke before disappearing or were improperly installed.

In response to the derailment, the MTA has inspected approximately 50,000 radius arm bolts across its
subway fleet, focusing on R160 cars and similar designs. No systemic issues were found during these
inspections, and officials believe riders are not currently at risk.

At Tsamouris, we recognize the critical role that high-quality fasteners play in ensuring the safety and
reliability of transportation systems.