First of all, elevators never plummet down their shafts. For the past century, elevators have had a backup break that automatically engages when an elevator starts to fall. If all the cables snapped (highly unlikely), the elevator would only fall a few feet before the safety breaks would activate.

What causes an elevator to free fall?

There are several mechanical issues that can cause an elevator to drop rapidly in the elevator shaft. One of the most common is a pulley system malfunction. ... If this happens, the car can plunge multiple stories at shockingly fast speeds, potentially tossing passengers around the elevator. Faulty wiring.

What happens if an elevator free falls?

If the car zips downward too quickly, the governor activates brakes on the elevator's travel rails. ... On the plus side, it's impractical to build a hydraulic lift higher than six stories, so you're only going to fall 60 to 90 feet. Then again, that means you'll hit the basement doing a brisk 48 to 53 mph. Ouch.