Dean Anson Sanderson died at Cape Tribulation, 140km north of Cairns, on October 22, 2019 after falling 20 to 25 metres through a rainforest canopy from a zipline.
Coroner Wayne Pennell heard details of the investigation into Mr Sanderson's death on Thursday during a pre-inquest conference in Brisbane.
The 50-year-old construction safety consultant and father of three from Adelaide took a tandem zipride tour with his wife Shannon during a holiday in far north Queensland
Mr Sanderson was the first on the zipline followed by his wife to traverse an 86-metre section of wire between two towers, counsel assisting April Freeman told Mr Pennell.
"Approximately midway across the zipline length they lost momentum and started to fall," Ms Freeman said.
"A loud sound or bang was heard and others felt the tower vibrating. They then saw the Sandersons fall to the forest below."
Mrs Sanderson, who attended Thursday's conference, was seriously injured.
Her husband suffered fatal head and chest injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene after attempts at resuscitation.
Ropes had been attached to end points by a loop through anchor points that were secured by bulldog-grip clamps.
The adequacy of that kind of grip would be an issue for the inquest, Ms Freeman said.
"The termination on the zipline used by Mr Anderson totally failed on the day of the incident, such that there was no loop at the end," she said.
"The rope has completely come away and has ended up on the forest floor."
Zipline passengers exerted up to two tonnes of force on the zipline while its termination points were not sufficiently tightened with a torque wrench, Ms Freeman said.
"A person cannot determine how tight the grips are by visual examination only and the torque of wire rope grips can reduce over time as the rope settles," Ms Freeman said.
A safety consultant had found the wire grips had well below the required torque strength.
"It was only a matter of time before the failure occurred," Ms Freeman said.
The Sandersons' zipline ride, Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours, was run by a company called Keydane.
Keydane stopped operating on the day of the incident and is no longer registered, Ms Freeman said.
"The circumstances of Mr Sanderson's death raised issues of public health and safety that have not been adequately addressed through other proceedings," she said.
Former Keydane director Sheena Mary Walshaw was found not guilty in 2024 of workplace safety failures and a case against the company was discontinued.
Mr Sanderson's death will be the subject of a five-day inquest starting March 2, 2026, Mr Pennell ordered.
Mrs Sanderson and other members of the zipline tour will be among witnesses called to give evidence.
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