DURING A CANISTER DISCHARGE OF AN OUT OF DATE COCKPIT PORTABLE BREATHING UNIT THE OXYGEN CANISTER BROKE APART AND CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IN THE HOOD.

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OXYGEN CANISTER BROKE APART AND BURNT WHEN DISCHARGED. LOOKS LIKE IT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE STILL INSTALLED ON PBE HOOD. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT DURING THE MAINT CHECKS PORTABLE BREATHING EQUIP KITS THAT ARE OUT OF DATE AND UNITS THAT ARE NOT HARD OR SEALED CORRECTLY ARE REMOVED. THE RPTR SAID THESE UNITS OR KITS ARE THEN PLACED IN A METAL CAGE AND OPENED UP NORMALLY AND THE CANISTER DISCHARGED TO ALLOW THE KITS TO BE SHIPPED BY TRUCK TO A LANDFILL. THE RPTR STATED THIS PARTICULAR KIT; WHEN OPENED AND TRIGGERED; BROKE APART INSTANTLY AND CAUGHT FIRE INSIDE THE HOOD. THE RPTR SAID THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE NOT ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE HANDLING THESE UNITS; BUT FLT AND CABIN CREWS. THE RPTR STATED A PERSON USING THIS HOOD IN AN EMER WOULD BE ENDANGERED. THE RPTR SAID THE UNIT HAD BEEN SENT TO THE COMPANY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FOR EVALUATION. THE RPTR STATED PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH DISCHARGING THE CANISTERS HAS BEEN ONE THAT EMITTED SPARKS AND FLASHES.