There are rumors that if an aluminum carabiner is dropped it can develop a ‘micro fracture’ in the aluminum which can cause it to fail. Numerous tests have show this is not true. If you drop an aluminum carabiner you should inspect if for proper function. If the gate still works properly and there is no visible damage, it is safe to continue using it. If the gate does not operate properly or there are still questions about it’s safety, we recommend to discontinue using it and destroy it to prevent accidental future use.