Miracle Recreation Equipment Company To Repair "Flying Wheels" Playground Swings

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Miracle Recreation Equipment Company of Grinnell, Iowa, today announced a repair program affecting 274 "Flying Wheels" tire swings produced by the firm between 1977 and 1983. A five-year old girl in Lorain, Ohio was killed in June 1984 after part of a Flying Wheels swing fell and struck her.

Flying Wheels is a playground swing consisting of four tires suspended from cross beams that rotate about a central metal shaft. The accident in Ohio occurred sometime after a weld on the unit had failed.

Flying Wheels swings subject to this program were sold nationally to local park and recreation departments and to some schools and churches. From its sales records, Miracle Recreation Equipment Company will contact directly, by registered mail, each purchaser of a Flying Wheels unit to notify them of the potential hazard and arrange for a field repair intended to prevent the swing assembly from the central shaft. The firm will provide needed charge, for the repair and an allowance of $50.00 for from separating parts, without welding costs.

Until the repair has been completed, the Commission and the manufacturer urge that the tire swings be removed from all Flying, Wheels units purchased prior to 1984.

For additional information, please contact Miracle Recreation Equipment Company, P.0. Box 275, Grinnell, Iowa 50112 (515-236-7536.) or call the Commission toll-free Hotline on 800-638-CPSC. The Commission's teletypewriter number for the hearing-impaired is 800-638- 8270.