ATV Incident Leads to Severe Injuries from Suspected Axle Defect

Case Overview

This case involves an individual who was a passenger on a side-by-side ATV when the vehicle began to roll after a slight left turn made by the operator. As a result of the incident, the individual suffered significant injuries, including the amputation of their pinky and ring fingers, and requires ongoing physical therapy. Following the accident, the operator inspected the vehicle and discovered that the axle appeared to have snapped, leading to the detachment of a wheel. Additionally, they found a video from an authorized seller promoting an updated axle kit for the same model, which mentioned that the original axle was not known to be sufficiently strong. This case seeks the expertise of a mechanical engineer to assess any defects that may have contributed to the incident.

Questions to the Mechanical Engineering expert and their responses

How often do you inspect or opine on defects and causes of failures for

I have over 30 years of experience in mechanical engineering, materials science, and failure analysis.

What factors would you consider to determine whether the ATV's axle had any defects?

To determine whether the ATV/UTV axle had any defects, I would need to review pertinent file materials, e.g. any accident reports would be first. A thorough inspection of the accident vehicle should follow. A metallurgical exam of the failed component(s) is likely next. The results of these efforts would likely precipitate a design review.

About the expert

This expert has 30 years of experience in mechanical engineering, specializing in motorcycle and all-terrain engineering. He earned his BS in mechanical engineering and materials science from the University of California, Berkeley, and his MS in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. Today, this expert is a licensed professional engineer and a licensed professional metallurgical engineer in the state of California. He is also a certified vehicle fire investigator, fire investigation instructor, and fire and explosion investigator. Moreover, he is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Society of Automotive Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Throughout the course of his work, he has also been very active in research and holds a patent in the jaw latch system design of motorcycle helmets. This expert previously was a research engineer in the Impact Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, an engineer, senior engineer, and managing engineer at Failure Analysis Associates, Inc., and the managing engineer of defense systems and technical development at Exponent, Inc. Currently, he serves as a mechanical engineer at an independent consultancy in northern California.

E-679583

Specialties:

Mechanical Engineering