Hobby-Lobby Int'l Recalls Battery Chargers Used with Helicopters Due to Fire Hazard
Recall 08558 · Apr 14, 2008 · Hobby-Lobby Int'l
3,200
units affected
3,200
units affected
Facts
- Recall number
- 08558
- Date
- Apr 14, 2008
- Company
- Hobby-Lobby Int'l
- Units affected
- 3,200
- Product
- Lithium-polymer battery chargers and lithium-polymer batteries
- Product type
- Adapter/Power Supply/Charger/Battery
- Hazard
- Fire
The product
The recall involves a lithium-polymer battery charger and batteries sold with the AT600 Falcon Helicopter kit. The recall also includes any spare battery (Model AT600B) or spare charger (Model ATS6046) purchased for this kit.
What can happen
The lithium-polymer batteries can ignite while charging, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
The fix
Consumers should stop using the recalled chargers and batteries immediately. Consumers can receive new batteries and a "smart" charger that will shut down when the charging process is completed by contacting sales@hobby-lobby.com. Hobby-Lobby International has directly contacted consumers who purchased the products from them. Consumers should not return the batteries and chargers to the firm, but follow instructions for disposal and registration on their Web site.
Incidents and where it was sold
- Incidents
- The firm has received three reports of incidents, including a consumer who received serious burns to his hand when a battery ignited.
- Sold at
- Hobby-Lobby.com from April 2006 through July 2007 for about $300 per kit. Spare chargers sold for about $15 and spare batteries sold for about $45.
Related pages
Questions and answers
What should I do with the recalled lithium-polymer battery chargers and lithium-polymer batteries?
Consumers should stop using the recalled chargers and batteries immediately. Consumers can receive new batteries and a "smart" charger that will shut down when the charging process is completed by contacting sales@hobby-lobby.com. Hobby-Lobby International has directly contacted consumers who purchased the products.
What is the hazard?
The lithium-polymer batteries can ignite while charging, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data; texts are shortened. Contact the company named above for the remedy.