Lord Howards Inc. Recalls Toy Helicopters

PRODUCT: Lord Howards' Super Jet, model 32930 toy helicopter.

PROBLEM: The helicopter's propeller tips rotate at a high velocity and may cause injury if the propeller tip were to strike the eye.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers who own these toy helicopters should remove them from children's use and return the helicopters to Lord Howards. For more information, consumers should call (614) 745-2986.

WASHINGTON, DC - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lord Howards Inc. of Newark, OH is voluntarily recalling some of its Super Jet, model 32930 toy helicopters. The helicopter's propeller tips rotate at a high velocity and may cause injury if the propeller tip were to strike the eye. Only the model which does not have a protective ring connecting the rotor tips is being recalled.

Lord Howards Inc. distributed approximately 5,000 of these toy helicopters nationwide from August 1990 to July 1991. Since that time, the firm has distributed the "Super Jet" with a ring around the rotor blades. The plastic helicopter that is being recalled has a single propeller with three blades, each 2-11/16 inches long. The helicopter is 2-1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide at its landing gear skids. There is a separate hand-held launching pad that is powered by four "AA" batteries. The helicopters being recalled do not have a protective ring around the perimeter of the three propeller blades.

Lord Howards Inc. is aware of one incident in which a six-year- old boy was struck in the eye by the propeller of one of these helicopters. The child suffered no permanent injury.

Consumers who own these toy helicopters should remove them from children's use and return the helicopters to Lord Howards for a replacement at no charge to the consumer. For more information consumers may contact Lord Howards Inc. by writing: Box 4276, Newark, Ohio 43055. Consumers may also call the company at (614) 745-2986.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to help reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths that are associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under the CPSC's jurisdiction.