Elevator problems were an epidemic at the building where a Manhattan ad executive died in a horrific accident last month, newly revealed Buildings Department records show.
City inspectors wrote 11 violations against 13 elevators at 285 Madison Ave. in the immediate aftermath of the Dec. 14 tragedy that killed Suzanne Hart, 41, the public records show.
Investigators are still trying to determine the exact cause of the malfunction that killed the Brooklyn resident killed when the elevator she was boarding suddenly shot upward with its doors still open, crushing her between the building’s first and second floors.
None of the violations directly explain Hart’s tragic death — but an industry expert says they point to the poor practices of Transel, the contractor hired to maintain the elevators.
“It shows the lack of care and maintenance provided by this company,” said the industry source. He called the alleged violations “all very simple things that are routine maintenance.”
The elevator that killed Hart so far has only been cited for a paperwork problem — it was among several elevators in the building that lacked a “certificate of compliance” with Buildings rules, the records show.
But other elevators at 285 Madison had more serious problems, the city alleges.
• One elevator’s cable was out of sync with the groove on a pulley that moves the cable up and down. Such a problem could cause the cable to slip off its pulley. The elevator also had a jumper wire attached to a controller. Jumpers can be used to bypass elevator electric and safety devices.
• Nails were used instead of cotter pins on shackles meant to hold heavy elevator car counterweights in place.
• Clamps meant to create an eyelet on cables were improperly attached on some of the elevators.
• Eccentrics, which help keep sliding elevator doors in place, were missing from doors on 15 upper floors.
• Required annual tests were not conducted on parts of at least two elevators.
Neither Transel nor the Buildings Department had any comment on the violations. Hearings on all the violations are set for next month.
The building is owned by global advertising giant WPP. Hart worked for the ad agency Y&R, a WPP subsidiary.
Buildings Department officials have previously said they are focusing on electrical work performed by Transel in the hours before Hart’s death.
Elevator experts say any number of electrical problems could have caused the tragedy, including a power surge or a malfunction of sensors meant to keep the elevator from moving while its doors were open.