Hobby-Lobby Int'l Recalls Battery Chargers Used with Helicopters Due to Fire Hazard

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Lithium-polymer battery chargers and lithium-polymer batteries

Units: About 3,200

Distributor/Retailer: Hobby-Lobby International Inc., of Brentwood, Tenn.

Manufacturer: Art-Tech R/C Hobby Co., Ltd. of Shenzhen, China

Hazard: The lithium-polymer batteries can ignite while charging, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received three reports of incidents, including a consumer who received serious burns to his hand when a battery ignited.

Description: 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.

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.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: 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.

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.hobby-lobby.com