Backcountry Access has issued a recall instructing customers to stop using certain models of its avalanche airbags until it can ship them new trigger assemblies.
The recall affects 6,400 avalanche air bags in the United States and 1,800 in Canada equipped with a trigger assembly that can fail resulting in the airbag not deploying and posing a risk of death and injury in the event of an avalanche. The bags were sold at outoor specialty stores worldwide and online at www.backcountryaccess.com from August 2011 through October, 2013 for between $499 and $750.
Affected air bag models include the Float 18, 22, 30, 32, 36 and Throttle. The bags are worn during skiing, snowmobiling and mountain climbing to help keep the user above the surface if an avalanche occurs. The airbags are yellow and are housed in a blue, red or black pack. The packs have the model name printed on them. “Float” and the “bca” logo are printed in black lettering on the airbag. Lot letters A through E are included in the recall. The lot letter can be found on the trigger handle. No incidents or injuries have been reported.
Backcountry Access, which is based in Boulder, CO, was acquired by K2 Sports in January, 2013 for an undisclosed sum. Backcountry also makes personal locater beacons, shovels, probes and other safety gear for backcountry skiing.
