The Recall Desk
CriticalCPSC·78096·Announced 1978-11-24

Citation portable air tanks recalled due to explosion risk

Citation Mfg. Co. issued a warning for portable air tanks that may rupture or explode due to metal casing defects, resulting in injuries and one death.

What this means for you

Highest-severity recall. Risk of serious injury or death is documented or strongly suspected. Stop using the product now and follow the agency's instructions.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that the defects have caused injuries, including one death in Tennessee. Per the rubric, reported deaths result in a score of 5 (Critical).

Plain-English summary

Citation Mfg. Co., Inc., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), issued a warning for certain portable air tanks manufactured between 1969 and 1975. The company reported that these tanks may rupture or explode because of defects in the metal tank casing. Since 1973, the company has received numerous reports of ruptured tanks causing injuries, including one death in Tennessee.

The affected tanks are cylindrical, 21 inches long, 14 inches high, and weigh 23 pounds. They may be painted red, blue, or yellow. Red tanks may be labeled "Citation Power Cleaning Equipment"; yellow tanks, "Camel Big Airy No. 5510"; and blue tanks, "General Service Line No. 9-774 Portable Air Tank." The company suspects that 118,000 tanks may still be in the hands of consumers.

Consumers should contact Mr. Delbert Phillips at Citation at (501) 524-6471 for more information. To verify model numbers and brand names, consumers can call CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800-638-2772.

The recalled product

Product
Citation Power Cleaning Equipment portable air tanks
Manufacturer
Citation
Category
Consumer Product — Air Tanks
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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