HCI audit query AQ16001
HCI Helmet Recalls. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this audit query about the helmets. Opened Apr 13, 2016, closed Nov 17, 2021 after 5.6 years without a recall. closed
What NHTSA says
Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filedHelmet City, Inc. (HCI) was an importer and worldwide distributor of motorcycle helmets, operated by President Al Sobel. In 2014 and 2015, OVSC conducted testing on various sizes of the HCI 100 and HCI 115 motorcycle helmets. All of the helmets tested failed some aspect of the compliance tests, including failures of impact attenuation tests. On September 23, 2015, NHTSA sent HCI Information Request letters containing reports showing testing failures for model 100 (sizes M and XL) and model 115 (size XL). On October 21, 2015, HCI's attorney indicated that HCI was looking into doing a Part 573 report for the subject helmets. After some additional correspondence between NHTSA and HCI - including NHTSA reminding HCI of the five-working day deadline to submit a Part 573 Safety Recall Report NHTSA received HCI's response to the information requests on November 12, 2015. Ultimately, on February 2, 2016, HCI submitted two Part 573 Safety Recall Reports to NHTSA for non-compliance in HCI helmet model 100 (sizes M and XL), Recall 16E-008, and model 115 (size XL), recall 16E-010. On April 13, 2016, NHTSA opened this AQ to investigate the timeliness of HCI's non-compliance determination and the scope of the 2016 recalls. The AQ was also opened to investigate and review HCI's compliance with reporting requirements under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Prior to NHTSA opening the AQ, Darsan Trading (established in February 2016) had purchased the inventory and trademark of HCI. It is NHTSA's understanding that the predecessor company originally responsible for the recall no longer legally exists. Darsan, the successor company, has thus far been forthcoming and cooperative with NHTSA, including taking over responsibility for and completing the quarterly reporting requirements for the aforementioned HCI recalls. The agency has concluded that continuing this investigation into HCI is not warranted and that this investigation should be closed. Closure of this AQ does not represent a determination by the agency as to HCI or Darsan's compliance with any applicable federal laws or regulations. The agency continues to monitor Darsan's handling of the recalls and its conformance with legal obligations including reporting requirements. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
A Audit Query is an audit of the manufacturer's own reporting obligations — early-warning data, recall notices, remedy — rather than of a vehicle condition. The summary is the agency’s own text from its investigation file, unedited; the opening and closing resumes with the full reasoning are on NHTSA’s site under this number.
What this means for an owner
Source: and what happens nextAn investigation is not a finding that a defect exists, and it puts no duty on anyone. NHTSA opens a Preliminary Evaluation when complaints and other reports suggest a condition worth asking the manufacturer about; it upgrades to an Engineering Analysis when the answers warrant testing; it closes either when it recommends a recall, when the manufacturer recalls on its own, or when no defect trend is found. The agency’s own goals are about four months for a petition, eight for a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query and eighteen for an Engineering Analysis; many run longer.
This one is closed. A audit query ends with NHTSA’s finding on the recall it examined — the remedy stands, is widened, or a new campaign follows; the file names the recall it concerned and NHTSA’s closing resume carries the reasoning.
Model years it names
Source: as NHTSA filed themNHTSA filed this action against Helmet City, Inc. without naming a model year — an equipment or manufacturer-level query.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationIs AQ16001 a recall?
No. A audit query is NHTSA asking questions, not a recall. A safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number and a duty to repair for free; this one closed without one. Whether one particular vehicle has an open recall is a VIN question at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is AQ16001 still open?
No. It closed on Nov 17, 2021 without a recall.
Which vehicles does AQ16001 cover?
NHTSA filed it against Helmet City, Inc. without naming a model year.