Hearth Record

Warning Issued On Portable Air Tanks

Home product recall 78-096. Announced by CPSC on Nov 24, 1978.

CPSC’s own notice, on cpsc.gov

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The short answer

Announced by CPSC on Nov 24, 1978. Copied from CPSC on Oct 24, 2026.

Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

Explosion/Projectiles

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

What should you do?

The notice gives no remedy in a field of its own.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

Which ones are recalled?

November 24, 1978 Release # 78-096 Warning Issued On Portable Air Tanks WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 24 ) -- Citation Mfg. Co., Inc., Siloam Springs, Ark., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today issued a warning that some portable air tanks manufactured by the company, may rupture or explode because of defects in the metal tank casing. The company has received numerous reports about ruptured tanks causing injuries since 1973, including one death in Tennessee. The tanks are used for such purposes as pressurizing tires. A recall of these same products was conducted by the company individually on several occasions and with the help of CPSC in 1973, but the firm suspects 118,000 tanks may yet be in the hands of consumers. The tanks were made between 1969 and 1975. They may be painted red, blue or yellow. Red tanks may be labeled, “Citation Power Cleaning Equipment”; Yellow tanks, “Camel Big Airy No. 5510”; and blue tanks, “General Service Line No. 9-774 Portable Air Tank”. Each tank is cylindrical in shape, 21 inches long and 14 inches high and weighs 23 pounds. Anyone wanting more information about these tanks should contact Mr. Delbert Phillips at Citation (501/524-6471). To verify model numbers and brand names, call CPSC’s toll-free Hotline at 800/638- 2772

Citation Power Cleaning Equipment portable air tanks and General Service Line tanks, Camel Big Airy portable air tanks.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

Who made and sold it?

  • Made by Citation.
Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

Was anyone hurt?

The notice doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • The notice lists no UPCs, so check the model, the description and the photos.
  • The notice lists no model numbers in a field of their own; its description may give them.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recalls API.

    Checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Source:

Recalls of kids’ and home products are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record. Copied on Oct 24, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

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