Is there a hardware failure mode where the device shuts down if you plug it in? I have tried four different working chargers and it does the same thing every time. If I plug it in powered on, it immediately powers down and does not show the charging light. I have blown out the USB port with compressed air to no avail. Searches on this yield other kinds of Kindle Fire problems, but not one like this.
Note: the crash only occurs if the cable is connected to a charger.