Drone users warned to take extreme care with LiPo batteries after Sydney explosion and fire

THEY’RE one of the most popular high-tech toys on the market. But Aussie experts are warning drone users of the safety risks after a frightening explosion within metres of two young children.

A SYDNEY man issued a dire warning to drone users after a battery used in his aircraft “exploded” and caught fire within metres of his two young children.

The recreational drone pilot said it was “a miracle they didn’t get hurt” or that his house didn’t burn down, and urged other users to double-check their batteries before someone was seriously injured.

But drone and safety experts say the type of battery technology used in drones and remote-control toys is prone to catching fire, and “the average person just doesn’t know about this”.

The remnants of a lithium polymer drone battery, purchased on eBay, after it exploded. Picture: Jack He

Sydney developer Jack He said charged his drone battery on his desk after a flying session on Sunday afternoon.

But after moving to the kitchen to cook dinner, his wife, three-year-old daughter, and infant son started screaming.

Jack He pictured with his drone that exploded after it was left to charge.

“The kids were playing and then they started yelling that there was a fire — the battery literally exploded,” he said.

“I was so lucky because if I was at my desk I would have been burned and my kids were playing right next to it. It was a miracle they didn’t get hurt.”

The battery in this photo of Jack He's drone set-up later exploded while charging, within metres of his two kids.

Battery parts flew from the charger in the explosion, narrowly missing the children’s play mat, and scorching a rug and wooden floorboards.

Mr He said the drone’s lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) battery, purchased from an eBay trader, hadn’t shown any signs of malfunctioning or swelling before he plugged it in, and he made sure to charge it on a “balanced” setting so it didn’t overheat.

But Global Drone Solutions chief executive Mahmood Hussein said the particular type of batteries used in drones was highly volatile, and few recreational drone users were well informed about their fire risk.

Shawn Minter's replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7 began smoking on his nightstand in the middle of the night.

“The average person doesn’t know about this,” Mr Hussein said.

“Until I got involved in this industry, I didn’t know you should never leave these batteries unattended. When they explode, (shrapnel) can travel between 5m and 10m away, and fire can quickly spread through your house.”

Undeclared drone batteries have previously caused a plane to catch fire on the tarmac in Melbourne, and poorly designed lithium-ion batteries were also behind smartphone fires, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 recalls, Mr Hussein said, and a 2016 case in which a smartphone was crushed in the mechanics of a Qantas first-class seat.

This file photo taken and released by Gwangju Bukbu Police Station in South Korea shows a blown-up Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission also recalled a remote-controlled toy plane from the Venom Group with a LiPo battery after concerns it posed a “fire and burn hazard”.

Mr Hussein said drone users should take special precautions when recharging and even storing drone batteries, and should keep them away from flammable material at all times.

An ACCC spokeswoman said the agency did not make “specific recommendations” for drone batteries, but warned buyers to choose sellers carefully.

“Consumers should choose responsible suppliers who understand the importance of good quality assurance in their supply chains and honour the consumer protections available in the Australian Consumer Law,” she said.

TIPS FOR CHARGING DRONE BATTERIES

1. Do not charge the battery immediately after a flight

2. Do not use the battery immediately after charging it

3. Inspect the battery before and after use. Do not use it if it appears swollen

4. Never leave batteries unattended while recharging

5. Charge batteries on a nonflammable surface

Think you can fly a drone? Take the official pre-flight Australian test:

Originally published as Drone users warned to take extreme care with LiPo batteries after Sydney explosion and fire