November 5, 2026 — A consumer has reported a catastrophic failure involving an E-flite 5000mAh 6S LiPo battery and a Dynamite Passport Ultra AC/DC Charger, both products from Horizon Hobby, LLC. The incident resulted in an explosion and fire that caused extensive damage to a condominium and led to carbon monoxide poisoning and potential long-term health risks for multiple family members.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On October 19, 2026, a consumer was charging an E-flite 5000mAh 6S LiPo battery using a Dynamite Passport Ultra AC/DC Charger. Both products are manufactured by Horizon Hobby, LLC. The charging was performed in balanced charge mode, within the manufacturer’s stated safe charging range. The consumer reported successfully completing over 100 identical charging sessions with this same equipment without any prior issues.
Despite following safety protocols, the LiPo battery catastrophically failed, resulting in an explosion and fire that caused extensive damage throughout the condominium. The consumer and their father entered the unit in an attempt to extinguish the blaze. The day following the incident, the consumer, their father, and mother sought emergency medical treatment. Blood tests confirmed the presence of carbon monoxide in the bloodstream of both the consumer and their father. Their physician has since recommended long-term monitoring for potential respiratory effects and cancer risk due to exposure to LiPo battery combustion byproducts, including hydrogen fluoride.
Compounding the severity of this incident, the consumer noted a prior defect history with the specific battery involved. In April 2018, the consumer had reported to Horizon Hobby’s product support team that this same battery, lot ACZ10061706, was defective upon arrival. Horizon Hobby acknowledged this defect in writing on April 17, 2018, via a support ticket, and subsequently issued a replacement battery without dispute.
Furthermore, Horizon Hobby’s own recall page documents over 18 recalled products across its Dynamite and E-flite charger and battery lines. This includes the DYN4066, a Dynamite Passport AC/DC LiPo 6S Charger, which is a consecutive model number within the same Passport product line as the DYN4064 charger involved in this incident. The DYN4066 was recalled for failing to meet recognized safety certification standards.
The charger box (DYN4064) carries a California Proposition 65 warning, indicating the product contains chemicals known to cause cancer. The incident has now resulted in documented carcinogen exposure for the consumer’s family.
The property insurer has placed Horizon Hobby on formal subrogation notice and elevated the claim to their large claims unit. A professional fire inspection has been conducted, establishing the battery and charger as the cause and origin of the fire, which caused extensive fire and smoke damage throughout the condominium.
Safety Concerns
This incident highlights several critical safety concerns associated with LiPo batteries and their charging equipment:
- Explosion and Fire Hazard: LiPo batteries, if defective or improperly handled, pose a significant risk of catastrophic failure, leading to explosions and intense fires. These fires can be extremely hot and difficult to extinguish, spreading rapidly and causing extensive property damage.
- Toxic Byproduct Release: The combustion of LiPo batteries releases highly toxic and corrosive gases, including hydrogen fluoride (HF). HF exposure can cause severe burns, respiratory damage, and has been linked to long-term health issues, including potential cancer risk. Carbon monoxide, also produced in fires, is a deadly gas that can cause acute poisoning, brain damage, and death.
- Property Damage: As evidenced by this incident, a LiPo battery fire can lead to widespread and devastating property damage, potentially resulting in the complete loss of a home and its contents due to fire and smoke.
- Health Risks for Occupants and Responders: Individuals attempting to extinguish such fires, or those in proximity, are at severe risk of smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning, and exposure to other hazardous combustion byproducts. Long-term health monitoring may be required for those exposed.
- Defective Products and Recall History: The incident raises concerns about the quality control and safety standards of certain products, especially given the prior documented defect of the battery and the recall history of similar charging products within the same brand lines.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own E-flite LiPo batteries or Dynamite chargers, particularly those models mentioned, should take these precautions:
- Immediate Safety Measures: If you observe any signs of distress from a LiPo battery (swelling, overheating, smoke, odd smell), immediately evacuate the area and call emergency services (911). Do not attempt to extinguish a LiPo fire with water, as it can react violently with lithium; use a Class D fire extinguisher if available and safe to do so, but personal safety and evacuation are paramount.
- Check Your Products: Verify if you own E-flite LiPo batteries (specifically model EFLB50006S30, lot ACZ10061706 or any other models that show signs of defect) or Dynamite Passport Ultra AC/DC Chargers (model DYN4064) or other models in the Dynamite Passport line. Check Horizon Hobby’s official website and the CPSC website for any current or past recalls on your specific products.
- Safe Charging Practices:
- Always charge LiPo batteries in a fire-safe location, away from flammable materials, preferably inside a LiPo-safe bag or a metal container.
- Never charge batteries unattended, especially not overnight or when away from home.
- Use only chargers specifically designed for LiPo batteries and ensure they are compatible with the battery’s cell count and capacity.
- Follow all manufacturer’s charging instructions precisely, including using balanced charge mode where applicable.
- Battery Inspection and Storage:
- Regularly inspect batteries for any signs of damage, swelling, punctures, or broken wires before each use and charge. Immediately discontinue use and safely dispose of any damaged batteries.
- Store LiPo batteries in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, extreme temperatures, and other flammable materials.
- Proper Disposal: Never dispose of LiPo batteries in regular household trash. Contact your local waste management facility for proper hazardous waste disposal guidelines.
- Report Incidents: If you experience any incident involving a battery or charger failure, report it immediately to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at SaferProducts.gov and directly to the product manufacturer.
Manufacturer’s Response
No manufacturer response has been provided in the incident report.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process. Farzan Law is a California based Personal Injury law firm focusing on protecting the rights of those wrongfully injured.
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Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.