Toy helicopter explosions continue to terrorize nation

I don't know how I got started on this whole exploding toy helicopter thing. Since starting the blog I've documented more than two recalls per month, generally because they burst into flames, causing property damage, injury from burns, and widespread panic.

On Thursday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (official motto: we don't want any more money, unless it's given to us by the people we regulate) recalled another one.

The "Protocol" remote-control mini helicopter has the nasty habit of overheating and burning people's fingertips. The copter is made by Ashley Collection, Inc., and is made in China.

I'm starting to develop a theory. China is trying to destroy us all. I'll elaborate in later posts.

In the meantime, if you're jonesing for a toy helicopter, I suggest something along these lines:

Toy Helicopters = Death

More toy helicopter tragedy.

First, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has put the kibosh on another toy helicopter because of exploding battery problems. The Chinese-made batteries in Hobbico Inc's Electrifly helicopter kits due to problems with the batteries melting, bursting into flames, and causing property damage.

On a sadder note, a six-year old boy was killed by a toy helicopter in the rural Brazilian city of Altinho in the state of Pernambuco. No word on what model it was, but let's face it, these things are just bad.

The Epidemic of Exploding Helicopters Continues Unabated

Another month, another recall of exploding toy helicopters. According to the CPSC, the "Sky Scrambler" and "Sharper Image" helicopters (made in Hong Kong by Innovage) join the ranks of the Sky Champion and the Thunder Wolf as toys recalled because they burst into flames.

Kind of makes me wonder what other toys might be really cool if they started exploding: Elmo's Inferno, Dora Explores the Inside of a Volcano, Burn Barney Burn!

Happy 4th of July! Try Not To Blow Yourself Up

Today we celebrate Independence Day, when a group of worried patriots dumped into the Boston harbor a shipment of tea that was suspected of causing a salmonella outbreak.

From our friends at the CPSC, I bring you a few heartwarming tales of pyrotechnics gone bad:

• A 32-year-old man was launching aerial fireworks from a platform on a driveway. The first round of the ten shot device went into the air, but then the device tipped over pointing the remaining fireworks at the people who were watching the display. The remaining fireworks were launched into the crowd. There were six people burned ranging in age from 4 to 32 years old.
  
• A 15-year-old male lit an M-80 inside his house and it exploded in his hand. The tips of two of his fingers were blown off.
  
• A 31-year-old man and his 32-year-old brother were involved in an explosion in an apartment complex. The victims were illegally manufacturing fireworks when the explosion occurred. The victims were reported to have purchased pyrotechnic components over the internet. One victim died six days after being admitted to the hospital and the other brother died two weeks after the incident.

Happy 4th!