Hobby-Lobby Int'l Recalls Battery Chargers Used with Helicopters Due to Fire Hazard
CPSC recall 08558 · announced April 14, 2008 · Art-tech R/c Hobby Co., Ltd. Of Shenzhen, China · 3,200 units affected
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.
The hazard
The lithium-polymer batteries can ignite while charging, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
What to do (per CPSC)
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.
Notes
Incidents (per CPSC): 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.
Consumer contact: For more information, contact Hobby-Lobby at (866) 933-5972 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Saturday, or visit the firm's web site at www.hobbylobby.com
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission public recall data. This page reports official records and is not legal, medical, or repair advice.