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On 23 Sep 2005 05:50:51 -0700, wrote:
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
Damn, is my Mustang being recalled?
--
John H
"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."
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