NTSB looks to laptop batteries as possible cause of plane fire

It looks like laptop batteries are fast gaining on cellphones as the technology most likely to kill you, or at least give you a nasty, potentially embarrassing burn. Hot on the heels of Dell investigating its own case of spontaneous combustion, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now getting in on the act, looking into the possibility that laptop batteries may have started a fire on a UPS cargo plane that was forced to make an emergency landing last February. The plane's three crew members managed to escape with only minor injuries, but the fire ultimately destroyed the plane and most of the cargo on board. While the NTSB investigation hasn't pinned the blame on the batteries just yet, the FAA's has Harry Webster has testified that lithium-ion batteries can vent flammable liquid and "pose a risk to the cargo compartment." We've already seen warnings not to use your laptop on your lap -- think warnings not to travel with them are far behind?

[kaztm @ Jul 15th 2006 8:32PM]

Oh, man... I hope FAA won't ban the use of laptops in flight. Right now, it seems that laptop fire is much more realistic hazard than using cell phones.

[Mobile Reviewer @ Jul 15th 2006 9:27PM]

yep,seems this laptop banneries manufacturer in a big trouble after this accident.

[iNsAniTy @ Jul 15th 2006 10:48PM]

The author of the post fails to mention that OEM laptop batteries rarely fail, it is only the cheap aftermarket ones that do, as in the case of the exploding Dell. If you ever get a chance, take apart one of the Li-Ion batteries that the major manufacturers (Dell, IBM) supply with their machines. You'll find that they use name brand cells, and the batteries use temperature sensors and advanced safety systems to ensure that this sort of thing never happens. Almost all laptop batteries are perfectly safe, a point which the originator of this article unfortunately misses in his cynical alarmist rant.

[shadin @ Jul 15th 2006 11:20PM]

Doesn't matter if it's aftermarket or OEM. The point of the story is the fact that laptop batteries might soon find themselves on a banned list, with good reason. Nobody is going to assume that everyone packing them onto planes is smart enough to only use name brand cells.

[Rusty @ Jul 16th 2006 2:15AM]

LOL, now instead of having to surrender your fingernail clippers, you'll have to pull the LiOn out of your: camera, cell phone, iPod, notebook, portable DVD player.....etc...
I can see it now.......some crack pot idiot with illusions of grandure will buy a cheap knockoff battery, take it to the restroom on a plane, plug it in and demand to be taken to cuba, or I'll let the battery overheat and
catch on fire..

[John Doe @ Jul 16th 2006 4:12AM]

Not a chance in hell. You may as well go ahead with that potential outage of Blackberries that the business world was threatened with last year. (Or was that earlier this year? I forget.) Because that had more cred as a possibility then having laptops banned from planes. Keep in mind that we are talking about batteries that weren't in use. So said batteries would have to be banned. Lets see that would also include cell phones, most PDA's with li-ion batteries. iPods. CD-players. What about rechargeable toothbrushes and razors in luggage? In short you may as well close down the airline industry if we are going to start worrying that a battery is just going to spontaneously combust.
Now what I could believe would be a compartment that travelers are required to stow any electronic device that has the air pumped out of it making it somewhat fire resistant. But that would cost money and considering the last flight I was on last month pretty much had me stowing my laptop case in the ass crack of the person in front of me I don’t see this as happening.

[Craig @ Jul 16th 2006 6:03AM]

I don't think that they could realistically do this. Such a huge number of people travel with laptops on planes, and the majority of them need their laptops with them for their job. They just couldn't immediately suddenly ban laptops.

[Morton Salty @ Jul 16th 2006 6:55AM]

It's probably easier to ban laptop then nail clippers and pocket knives. I'm sure all we would have to do is take our batteries out or seal them in an airtight fireproof container before traveling, no biggie. This world works to much anyway, were killing ourselves. Sell your home live in a tent live off the land, just go to an Apple store when you need to read the internet or check your email. The dark ages movement will happen soon.

[Mike @ Jul 16th 2006 7:50AM]

Interestingly, I recently purchased a new brand-name Li-Ion battery mail order from a major office supplier. Even though I had it shipped standard UPS group, there was a clear warning label on the outside of the package specifying the contents and that it could not be transported via air. So shippers seem like they're already getting more cautious (or maybe this has been a common practice for some time).

[Cyberwhore @ Jul 16th 2006 9:36AM]

Lithium batteries have been classed as dangerous goods for airfrieght for quite some time.

[Wojtek @ Jul 16th 2006 11:12AM]

They are dangerous goods because of the fumes generated when something else is burning and then lights the battery on fire.

The only way I can see the fire starting is if something shorted out the contacts on the batteries. The chemicals inside the battery, are likely pretty stable without an applied current.

[Tom Anderson @ Jul 16th 2006 3:01PM]

It's great that lithium batteries have protection circuitry to keep them from exploding, because these batteries have about 1/8 the energy density of TNT, and advances in the batteries will continue to make this increase. What is important is that the protection mechanisms themselves always fail in a safe manner. The manufacturer needs to be able to show that the batteries are fail safe, and guarantee this. OEMs and distributors need to guarantee that they are selling these fail-safe batteries, and not counterfeits.

Adding these assurances for the purpose of establishing safer air travel may add substantial system costs to various gadgets.

The US Navy undertands these issues very well, see http://proceedings.ndia.org/5670/Lithium_Battery-Winchester.pdf
especially page 15 "Some Results of Mistreatment"! Too bad I don't have a link to their video footage, I bet it is fantastic.

Other sources:
Google
author:"Tarascon" intitle:"Issues and challenges facing rechargeable lithium batteries"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinitrotoluene

[Schtum @ Jul 16th 2006 5:40PM]

There is a HUGE difference between the cargo area and the passenger area of an airplane: The cargo area is not pressurized. This greatly increases the risk of explosion for items with high internal pressure. If the battery wasn't properly sealed, it would leak and possibly combust.

[Tim UF @ Jul 16th 2006 6:46PM]

In the original report on that Dell incident, there is a line that says "It is only a matter of time until such an incident breaks out on a plane,".

heres a link to that report: http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=32550

[tiuk @ Jul 16th 2006 7:31PM]

Tim UF - That was the first thing I thought of. "That didn't take long"

[RK Murthy @ Jul 16th 2006 9:41PM]

I don't know, this has become a regular affair: remember these: sauce pan and teflon, cell phones and brain damage, synthetic fabrics and skin diseases, Air conditioning and Asthma, Aginimotto and health etc etc. Such possibilities do scare people but the usage
goes on! But lap top on planes may stop; laptops on laps will not! Laps are fire proof?

[Glenn @ Jul 17th 2006 2:38AM]

mayhaps NAFTA, CAFTA, and any other giveaway of jobs program should take into account the fact that QA/QC does mean something.

[Uncle Jerry @ Jul 17th 2006 8:58AM]

It was probably just one of those new Mac Book's that got a little to hot...

[o0adam0o @ Jul 17th 2006 9:56AM]

They r just gonna ban the Dells on planes....hehehe. Start scraping off your Dell logos guys!

[captain dan @ Jul 19th 2006 10:57AM]

Here's the NTSB's preliminary brief: http://ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20060627X00840&key=1

I think that link will be updated with the probable cause once they reach a conclusion.

[Alex C @ Aug 15th 2006 11:49AM]

uummm, I think a lot of people have missed the grander issue here. We need a better power supply. One that won't burst into flames. That's the solution, and we deal with the risk until then by just betting that it won't happen. I work in a company where everyone has a laptop, and everyone has to travel. So not being able to bring batteries on board isn't an option. The only way sealing batteries up would work is if the Airlines provide the container, it's individual to each person (I don't want my battery mixed up with someone elses) AND regular power outlets are provided on the plane (not these funkey things they have now that require special adapters) to be able to use my portable device without the battery. Then maybe it'd be possible. And I don't see those things happening any time soon.

So bottom line... Fix the Batteries.