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CPSC announced the ice axe shaft can break at the handle during use, posing a fall hazard, which can result in serious injury or death. [1] The firm has received 26 reports of the ice axe shafts breaking at the handle, with no injuries reported. [1]
26 Shaft Breakage Reports
Petzl received 26 reports of aluminum shafts breaking at the handle attachment points. The multiple failure reports demonstrate systematic structural defects across the recalled ice axe models.
Nomic Model U021AA00
The Nomic ice climbing axes are black with model number U021AA00 and serial numbers 17L 0000000 000 to 20F 9999999 999. The axes feature aluminum shafts, steel picks, and reinforced plastic grips.
Ergonomic Model U022AA00
The Ergonomic ice climbing axes are orange with model number U022AA00 and serial numbers 18F 0000000 000 to 21L 9999999 999. Both models share identical construction methods creating identical structural failure points.
Serial Number Location
The serial numbers for both models are printed on labels on the upper portions of the shafts. Consumers must check these labels to determine if their axes are affected.
Sold 2017 Through 2022
The axes sold at REI, Moosejaw Mountaineering, and other specialty stores nationwide and online at petzl.com, REI.com, and Backcountry.com for between $380 and $440. The five-year sales period distributed over 4,200 defective axes to climbers.
Free Repair Kit With New Shaft
Petzl provides free repair kits including new shafts, hardware for grip rests, and assembly instructions. Consumers must register at petzl.com and receive prepaid shipping labels to return the defective shafts.
Catastrophic Shaft Fracture
The aluminum shafts fracture completely at the handle attachment points during ice climbing use. The sudden breakage occurs without prior visible warning signs or deformation.
Falls From Heights
When ice axe shafts break during climbing, users lose critical support and fall from vertical ice walls. The falls from heights ranging from several feet to hundreds of feet cause fatal injuries.
Loss of Anchoring Support
The broken axes fail to maintain secure placements in ice, eliminating the climber’s primary anchoring system. Loss of the anchoring support removes all protection against gravitational falls.
Impact Injuries From Falls
Climbers falling after shaft breakage strike ice surfaces, rock outcroppings, and ground below. The high-velocity impacts cause skull fractures, spinal injuries, and internal organ damage.
Fatal Falls on Alpine Routes
Shaft failures on high-altitude alpine routes result in falls of hundreds of feet onto glaciers and talus fields. The extreme fall distances combined with impact on hard surfaces create fatal trauma.
Design Defect at Handle Junction
The shafts that fracture at the handle attachment points are defectively designed. Safe ice axe design requires adequate material thickness and stress distribution at all load-bearing junctions.
Inadequate Stress Testing
Petzl failed to adequately test shaft strength at the handle junction under repeated impact loading simulating ice placements. Reasonable testing requires cyclic loading to identify fatigue failure modes.
Manufacturing Defect in Shaft Material
The aluminum shafts manufactured between December 2017 and March 2022 contain systematic material or heat treatment defects. Proper manufacturing requires consistent material properties preventing premature fracture.
Failure to Warn About Inspection
Petzl failed to warn users to inspect shaft integrity at handle junctions before each climbing session. Adequate warnings must instruct climbers to examine critical structural components for cracks or deformation.
Breach of Implied Warranty
Petzl breached implied warranties by selling ice axes with shafts that break during normal climbing use. Safety equipment marketed for life-support applications must withstand anticipated loads without catastrophic failure.
Negligent Product Design and Testing
Manufacturing ice axes without adequate shaft strength testing at handle junctions constitutes negligence. Manufacturers of life-safety climbing equipment must ensure structural integrity under all foreseeable use conditions.
Contact an Attorney
If you suffered injuries from Petzl ice axe shaft breakage during climbing, contact a product liability attorney. Preserve the broken axe, purchase receipts, medical records, and witness statements.
References
1. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Petzl-America-Recalls-Nomic-and-Ergonomic-Ice-Climbing-Axes-Due-to-Fall-Hazard-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death