# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-72-036

**Citation:** P-72-036  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1972-11-08  
**Published:** 1972-11-08

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE: CONDUCT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, A STUDY OF THE STRESS EFFECTS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF SOILS AND BACKFILL ON SERVICE LINE-GAS MAIN CONNECTIONS. AS A RESULT OF THIS STUDY, GUIDELINES SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR INSTALLING UNDERGROUND GAS-PIPING SYSTEMS.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-72-036.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE: CONDUCT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, A STUDY OF THE STRESS EFFECTS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF SOILS AND BACKFILL ON SERVICE LINE-GAS MAIN CONNECTIONS. AS A RESULT OF THIS STUDY, GUIDELINES SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR INSTALLING UNDERGROUND GAS-PIPING SYSTEMS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1972-11-08

Adopted Date: 1972-11-08

Overall Date Closed: 1976-09-10

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 4, 1971, A SMALL EXPLOSION AND INTENSE FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED A HOUSE AT 8300 JERRIE JO DRIVE NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS. THIS ACCIDENT CAUSED THE DEATHS OF A FATHER AND HIS TWO SONS AND THE SEVERE BURNING OF THEIR MOTHER. ALMOST 3 HOURS LATER, THE NEIGHBORING HOUSE AT 8304 JERRIE JO EXPERIENCED AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN THE GARAGE WHICH CAUSED THE DEATH OF THE WOMAN OCCUPANT AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE.

Ntsbnumber: PLD72XR006

Report Number: PAR-72-03

Addressee Name: American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1976-09-10

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1974-07-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM ASME: THE ASME DISTRIBUTION SUBCOMMITTEE CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF SEVERAL COMPANIES. BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY, IT IS THE CONCLUSION THAT THE INCIDENCE OF FAILURE DUE TO SOIL STRESS IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT THE SUBSTANTIAL EXPENSE OF THE RECOMMENDED STUDY AND THE PRESENT OPS RULES, TOGETHER WITH THE ASME GUIDE MATERIAL, PROVIDE ADEQUATE COVERAGE IN THIS AREA. 4/76 - THE 1976 EDITION OF THE GUIDE WAS PUBLISHED AND INCLUDED THE RECOMMENDED MATERIAL.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-72-036>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `3009ecda767ef248ed6ab09aa34cb3500a648cd309bf8d7656207bb44e9c779a`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T19:19:07.491Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-72-036`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-72-036",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD72XR006",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1976-09-10",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-72-03",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD72XR006.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P72_34_39.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "American Society of Mechanical Engineers",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1976-09-10",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "ASME",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1974-07-23",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "LETTER FROM ASME: THE ASME DISTRIBUTION SUBCOMMITTEE CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF SEVERAL COMPANIES. BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY, IT IS THE CONCLUSION THAT THE INCIDENCE OF FAILURE DUE TO SOIL STRESS IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT THE SUBSTANTIAL EXPENSE OF THE RECOMMENDED STUDY AND THE PRESENT OPS RULES, TOGETHER WITH THE ASME GUIDE MATERIAL, PROVIDE ADEQUATE COVERAGE IN THIS AREA. 4/76 - THE 1976 EDITION OF THE GUIDE WAS PUBLISHED AND INCLUDED THE RECOMMENDED MATERIAL."
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```