Finding into death of Manabu Kondo
Deceased
Manabu Kondo
Demographics
38y, male
Date of death
2006-10-08
Finding date
2012-02-15
Cause of death
Multiple injuries sustained in a jet dragster accident
AI-generated summary
Manabu Kondo, a 38-year-old Japanese racing driver, was killed when a jet-powered dragster he had purchased experienced catastrophic mechanical failure during a high-speed test run. The rear wheel bearings were incorrectly fitted and loose, causing vibration and loss of control at 300 km/h. Critical failures included: the seller (Hinkling) failing to conduct promised vehicle inspection and driver training before leaving the venue; the track owner (Clarke) conducting only inadequate visual inspection without hoisting the vehicle to check wheel play and bearings; and the failure to halt testing after vibration was reported on day 2. While Kondo struck his helmet on the roll cage, the primary cause was mechanical defect. The coroner found multiple cumulative oversights were dangerous and that a proper pre-test survey including hoisting would likely have detected the wheel defect.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Contributing factors
- Incorrectly fitted rear wheel bearings
- Loose wheel nuts
- Excessive play in rear wheel hubs
- Inadequate pre-test vehicle inspection
- Failure to hoist vehicle to inspect wheel bearings and play
- Failure to conduct driver training
- Failure to halt testing after vibration reported
- Removal of vehicle wings without adequate assessment of impact
- Lack of ANDRA licensing and compliance
- Seller's departure without completing promised inspection and preparation
- Oil spill on track preventing adequate post-run communication
Coroner's recommendations
- Appropriate distribution of finding to Japanese Consulate-General, ANDRA, and involved parties
Full text
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