PFD INFLATION FAILURE DUE TO FALSE-POSITIVE SERVICE INDICATORS AND
INCORRECT CO2 CYLINDER INSTALLATION


The U.S. Coast Guard has been made aware of a potential problem when
installing CO2 cylinders that have bayonet tips in inflatable personal
flotation devices (PFDs or life jackets). If a cylinder is not
properly installed, the PFD will not inflate with CO2. The problem may
affect several thousand PFDs, but the Coast Guard is only aware of one
incident to date.


Some Mustang, Protexion, and Stearns/SOSpenders PFDs using
Halkey-Roberts' inflators can indicate a green "Ready" status
when the CO2 cylinder is not properly installed. This false positive
green indication occurs when the cylinder-bayonet assembly is inserted
in the inflator, not turned, and the cylinder is not ejected.


Cylinders with bayonet tips are designed to be pushed in and turned
1/8th turn clockwise to a full stop to secure the cylinder. When the
cylinder is not turned to secure it in place, the PFD will not inflate
with CO2. The PFD may still be inflated orally. If the CO2 cylinder
is not turned, the mechanism is supposed to eject it. In some
production units a false positive green indication can be achieved by
simply pushing the cylinder into the mechanism without turning it 1/8th
turn to a full stop. According to the consumer report, a user was led
to believe the cylinder-bayonet was properly engaged without turning it
due to the firm seating of the cylinder-bayonet, which also prevented
the cylinder-bayonet from ejecting as designed.


Consumers should check the model number of the PFD (located on the
manufacturer's label) to see if your PFD is affected. The models
numbers a


Manufacturer
PFD Model #
Contact Number

Mustang Survival

Customer Service

3870 Mustang Way

Bellingham, WA 98226

USA
MC1900 Automatic

MC1900HR Automatic w/ Harness

MD0100 LIFT Vest Manual

MD0200 LIFT Vest Automatic

MD3081 Manual

MD3082 Manual with Harness

MD3083 Automatic

MD3084 Automatic w/ Harness

All colors and Styles
1-800-526-0532 (USA)

1-800-661-6181 (CAN)

www.mustangsurvival.com

Protexion Products Inc.

643 Speedvale Ave W

Guelph Ontario

N1K 1E6 CANADA
NIV3000, Manual

NIV3500, Manual with Harness

NIV4000, Automatic

NIV4500, Automatic with Harness

1-800-268-3112

www.nautilusbyprotexion.com



Stearns Inc.

1100 Stearns Drive

Sauk Rapids, MN

56379

(also SOSpenders)
38MLNG, Manual

38MHRN, Manual w/ Harness

24MSPT, Manual

38MREG, Manual

38MBP, Manual

38ASSTD, Automatic

38ASHAR, Automatic w/ Harness

38ASPRO, Automatic

38CHR, Automatic and Manual

1469, Automatic

1473, Automatic with Harness
1-800-328-3208 EXT 1

www.stearnsinc.com



Updated cylinder installation instructions are on the home pages of
manufacturers' websites and at the Coast Guard website listed below.
Review and follow the instructions. Check your device to ensure that
the inserted CO2 cylinder-bayonet has been fully turned clockwise prior
to use.


If your PFD inflator does not eject an unturned cylinder-bayonet,
contact the PFD manufacturer for servicing