Action Copter HAPPY BIRD and Action Land-Cruiser WANDERER
CPSC Recall #91-046 — March 18, 1991
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 91-046 |
| Recall Date | March 18, 1991 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 1,150 Action Copter HAPPY BIRD 1,150 Action Land-Cruiser WANDERER |
Product
Action Copter HAPPY BIRD and Action Land-Cruiser WANDERER
Description
WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Inventory Liquidators Corp., Itasca, IL is voluntarily recalling approximately 1,150 pieces of the "Action Copter HAPPY BIRD" (model number 7811B) and 1,150 pieces of the "Action Land-Cruiser WANDERER" (model number 7815B) because of small parts that could pose fatal choking and aspiration hazards to young children. When the CPSC tested the toys in accordance with regulations under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, small parts such as wheels and rotor blades detached from the "Action Copter HAPPY BIRD" and small parts such as the bumper, antenna, windshield and wheels detached from the "Action Land-Cruiser WANDERER." The "Action Copter HAPPY BIRD" is a plastic wind-up toy helicopter approximately five inches long. The helicopter is brightly colored in red with white rotor blades, five "HAPPY BIRD" insignias, a pilot wearing a red cap, three wheels (two back wheels and one front wheel), and one blue turn key at the base of the helicopter. The turn key activates the wheels, rotates the blades and jiggles the pilot up and down. The toy is packaged in a cardboard blister pack labeled in part "No. 7811B, Made in China." The "Action Land-Cruiser WANDERER" is a plastic wind-up toy vehicle approximately four and one-half inches long. The vehicle is brightly colored in red with a rotating radar antenna, three "WANDERER" decals, a driver wearing a red cap, four black wheels and one blue turn key at the base of the vehicle. The turn key activates the wheels, rotates the radar antenna and jiggles the driver up and down. The toy is packaged in a cardboard blister pack labeled in part "No. 7815B, Made in China." The toys, imported by Inventory Liquidators Corp., were sold in retail stores in Illinois, Indiana, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin from May 1990 to September 1990 for approximately $1.50 each. The potentially hazardous toys were identified at the Port of Chicago during a joint CPSC/U.S. Customs surveillance program. Neither the CPSC nor the company is aware of any injuries involving these products. This voluntary recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. Consumers are urged to take these toys away from young children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund of the purchase price. Consumers with questions about this recall may contact Inventory Liquidators Corp. at 1-708-250-7575 or write the firm at 1100 Maplewood Drive, Itasca, IL 60143. The CPSC's mission is to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The CPSC is the Federal agency responsible for consumer product safety. Some 15,000 different types of consumer products fall within the Commission's jurisdiction and each year these products are involved in an estimated 30 million injuries and 22,000 deaths.
Hazard
Toys contain small parts that could pose fatal choking and aspiration hazards to young children.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers are urged to take these toys away from young children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund of the purchase price.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund 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 (Refund) at no cost to you.
Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside — if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.
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.