Firestormer and Skyblazer toy planes

CPSC Recall #02-170 — May 23, 2002

Recall Summary

Recall Number02-170
Recall DateMay 23, 2002
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedAbout 137,000
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Hobby shops and department stores nationwide
including Wal-Mart
Toys R Us
Target and K-mart sold these planes between January 2002 and May 20
2002 for about $20.

Product

Firestormer and Skyblazer toy planes

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Spin Master Toys, of Toronto, Ontario is voluntarily recalling about 137,000 Firestormer and Skyblazer toy planes. The plastic air intake chamber of the air-powered toy planes can burst, throwing plastic pieces, posing a laceration, bruise and abrasion hazard to consumers.Spin Master Toys has received seven reports of Firestormer planes bursting, including four reports of injuries to children. Injuries included one chest abrasion, a cut leg, a bruised shoulder and ringing in the ears. There have been no reports involving the Skyblazer planes.The recalled Firestormer plane is either red or blue in color with a flame graphic across the body and "Firestormer" printed on the wings of the plane. The Skyblazer plane is purple, green and white in color and has "Skyblazer" printed on the wings of the plane. These toys use a hand pump mechanism to compress air to make the plane fly. Both planes are recommended for children 8 years old and over. The planes have an 8-digit date code on the bottom of the pump. The date code reads MM/DD/YY-KS. Only planes with date codes 12/29/01-KS through 03/24/02-KS are included in the recall. "Made In China" is written on the bottom of the pump below the date code. Planes manufactured before December 29, 2001 and after March 24, 2002 are not included in this recall.Hobby shops and department stores nationwide, including Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Target and K-mart sold these planes between January 2002 and May 20, 2002 for about $20.Consumers should stop using the planes immediately and contact Spin Master Toys at (800) 622-8339 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to receive a free replacement plane. Consumers also can visit the firm's website at www.spinmaster.com.

Hazard

The plastic air intake chamber of the air-powered toy planes can burst, throwing plastic pieces, posing a laceration, bruise and abrasion hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Spin Master Toys has received seven reports of Firestormer planes bursting, including four reports of injuries to children. Injuries included one chest abrasion, a cut leg, a bruised shoulder and ringing in the ears. There have been no reports involving the Skyblazer planes.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using the planes immediately and contact Spin Master Toys at (800) 622-8339 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to receive a free replacement plane.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Replace) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.