B777 pilot reported that a passenger purchased an MP3 charger from duty free. When the charger was u...

Attributes
ACN	755983
Time
Date	200709
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : czqx.artcc
State Reference	NF
Altitude	msl single value : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : czqx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B777-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	755983
Events
Anomaly	cabin event : passenger electronic device other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

A passenger purchased an MP3 recharger from onboard duty free. When plugged into his seat receptacle the ipod overheated; smoked and was destroyed. This is the 2ND time this has happened on one of my flts. This device is a severe fire hazard and should be removed from duty free. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated that the first incident with this charger resulted in an MP3 player becoming hot to the touch. For the reported incident; however; the player overheated; produced smoke; and was ruined. The reporter does not remember the manufacturer or model of the charger that was being sold. He has flown the same route since the report; and although the device appeared in the catalog; it was not aboard the aircraft for sale.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B777 PLT REPORTED THAT A PAX PURCHASED AN MP3 CHARGER FROM DUTY FREE. WHEN THE CHARGER WAS USED; IT OVERHEATED AND DESTROYED THE MP3 PLAYER.

Narrative: A PAX PURCHASED AN MP3 RECHARGER FROM ONBOARD DUTY FREE. WHEN PLUGGED INTO HIS SEAT RECEPTACLE THE IPOD OVERHEATED; SMOKED AND WAS DESTROYED. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ONE OF MY FLTS. THIS DEVICE IS A SEVERE FIRE HAZARD AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM DUTY FREE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE REPORTER STATED THAT THE FIRST INCIDENT WITH THIS CHARGER RESULTED IN AN MP3 PLAYER BECOMING HOT TO THE TOUCH. FOR THE REPORTED INCIDENT; HOWEVER; THE PLAYER OVERHEATED; PRODUCED SMOKE; AND WAS RUINED. THE REPORTER DOES NOT REMEMBER THE MANUFACTURER OR MODEL OF THE CHARGER THAT WAS BEING SOLD. HE HAS FLOWN THE SAME ROUTE SINCE THE REPORT; AND ALTHOUGH THE DEVICE APPEARED IN THE CATALOG; IT WAS NOT ABOARD THE ACFT FOR SALE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

B777 pilot reported that a passenger purchased an MP3 charger from duty free. When the charger was used; it overheated and destroyed the MP3 player.