P 291808Z AUG 02 ZUI ASN-A00241000048
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-O//
TO ALCOAST
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UNCLAS //N10470//
ALCOAST 416/02
COMDTNOTE 10470
SUBJ: SAFETY RECALL OF SOSPENDERS INC. BRAND INFLATABLE PFDS
A. RESCUE AND SURVIVAL SYSTEMS MANUAL, COMDTINST M10470.10E
1. SOSPENDERS INC. OF FRUITLAND, ID HAS RECALLED THE ULTRALIGHT AND
TACTICAL VEST AUTOMATICALLY INFLATING PFDS IDENTIFIED IN CHAPTER 4
OF REF A.
2. ALL UNITS SHALL PERFORM AN IMMEDIATE INSPECTION OF ALL IN
SERVICE AND SHELF STOCK ULTRALIGHT AND TACTICAL VEST INFLATABLE
PFDS PURCHASED FROM SOSPENDERS INC. OF FRUITLAND, ID, YAKIMA
PRODUCTS CUSTOMER SERVICE OF ARCATA, CA OR WATERMARK GEAR OF
ARCATA, CA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE:
   A. VISUALLY INSPECT THE FACE OF THE HAMMAR MA1 AUTOMATIC
INFLATION ASSEMBLY THROUGH THE CLEAR PLASTIC WINDOW ON THE FRONT OF
THE ULTRALIGHT AND TACTICAL VEST FOR THE MARKING "100(SYMBOL FOR
PERCENT SIGN) INSPECTED".
   B. IF THE MARKING "100(SYMBOL FOR PERCENT SIGN) INSPECTED" IS
PRESENT THE PFD MAY REMAIN IN SERVICE. RECORD THIS INSPECTION
COMPLIED WITH ON THE PFDS MAINTENANCE LOG.
   C. IF THE MARKING "100(SYMBOL FOR PERCENT SIGN) INSPECTED" IS
NOT PRESENT, THE PFD IS SUBJECT TO THIS SAFETY RECALL AND SHALL BE
IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM SERVICE AND RETURNED TO SOSPENDERS INC. OF
FRUITLAND, ID. FOR INFLATION VALVE REPLACEMENT. ANNOTATE THE REASON
FOR REMOVING THE PFD FROM SERVICE ON THE PFD MAINTENANCE LOG.
RETURN ALL PFDS SUBJECT TO THIS SAFETY RECALL TO SOSPENDERS INC.,
1510 N.W. 17TH STREET, FRUITLAND, ID, 83619.
3. FURTHER INFORMATION AND COLOR ILLUSTRATIONS OF EXACTLY WHAT TO
INSPECT THE VALVE FACE FOR ARE POSTED TO THE SOSPENDERS INC. WEB
SITE AT WWW.SOSPENDERS.COM.
4. A COPY OF THIS ALCOAST SHALL BE PLACED IN FRONT OF REF A PENDING
PROMULGATION OF CHANGE 1.
5. QUESTIONS CAN BE TO CWO KIRK NEPRUD AT KNEPRUD(AT)COMDT.USCG.MIL
OR (202) 267-1585.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
7. RELEASED BY RADM DAVID S. BELZ, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR
OPERATIONS.
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