# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-73-041

**Citation:** P-73-041  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1973-08-24  
**Published:** 1973-08-24

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE: DEVELOP CRITERIA WHICH CAN BE USED BY GAS DISTRIBUTION OPERATORS FOR REDUCING THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS FROM BREAKS IN CAST-IRON MAINS. THE CRITERIA SHOULD CONSIDER REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR OF MAINS, BASED ON PIPE SIZE, GRAPHITIZATION, EXTERNAL LOADS, TRAFFIC, SOIL CONDITION AND STABILITY, AND GAS PRESSURE.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-73-041.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE: DEVELOP CRITERIA WHICH CAN BE USED BY GAS DISTRIBUTION OPERATORS FOR REDUCING THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS FROM BREAKS IN CAST-IRON MAINS. THE CRITERIA SHOULD CONSIDER REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR OF MAINS, BASED ON PIPE SIZE, GRAPHITIZATION, EXTERNAL LOADS, TRAFFIC, SOIL CONDITION AND STABILITY, AND GAS PRESSURE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1973-08-24

Adopted Date: 1973-08-16

Overall Date Closed: 1979-02-06

Synopsis: A GAS EXPLOSION OCCURRED ON AUGUST 31, 1972 IN THE ANNEX BUILDING OF AN ATLANTA, GA., HIGH SCHOOL. GAS HAD LEAKED INTO THE BUILDING FROM A CRACKED CAST-IRON MAIN LOCATED BENEATH THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE ANNEX. ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY (AGL) PERSONNEL ARRIVED AT THE LEAK SITE APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AFTER AGL WAS FIRST NOTIFIED OF THE LEAK AND APPROXIMATELY 1/2 HOUR BEFORE THE EXPLOSION. ONE PERSON DIED AND SEVEN OTHERS WERE INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.

Ntsbnumber: PLD72XR005

Report Number: PAR-73-03

Addressee Name: American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1979-02-06

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1973-09-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM CHAIRMAN OF ASME GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE: THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION IS PUTTING TOGETHER A LONG RANGE RESEARCH PLANNING PROGRAM, BROKEN UP INTO FIVE MAJOR SECTORS OF INTEREST. ONE OF THE MAJOR AREAS INCLUDED FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION IS CAST IRON PERFORMANCE. WE ARE GIVING PARTICULAR CONSIDERATION TO METHODS OF DETECTING GRAPHITIZATION AND OTHER DEFECT AREAS PRIOR TO FAILURE. 4/76 - THE 1976 EDITION OF THE GUIDE WAS PUBLISHED AND INCLUDED THE RECOMMENDED MATERIAL. 9/6/78 - ASME LTR: GUIDE MATERIAL FOR THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS ADOPTED UNDER 192.703(B) AND APPEARED IN THE GUIDE IN 1975.

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1976-05-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-73-041>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `c13abc0ec0f82735925706ba7e0c6ef39c12a2e4f61c8dec12b222debef124d7`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T19:05:21.584Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-73-041`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-73-041",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD72XR005",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1979-02-06",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-73-03",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD72XR005.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P73_37_46.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "American Society of Mechanical Engineers",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1979-02-06",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "ASME",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1973-09-18",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "LETTER FROM CHAIRMAN OF ASME GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE: THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION IS PUTTING TOGETHER A LONG RANGE RESEARCH PLANNING PROGRAM, BROKEN UP INTO FIVE MAJOR SECTORS OF INTEREST. ONE OF THE MAJOR AREAS INCLUDED FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION IS CAST IRON PERFORMANCE. WE ARE GIVING PARTICULAR CONSIDERATION TO METHODS OF DETECTING GRAPHITIZATION AND OTHER DEFECT AREAS PRIOR TO FAILURE. 4/76 - THE 1976 EDITION OF THE GUIDE WAS PUBLISHED AND INCLUDED THE RECOMMENDED MATERIAL. 9/6/78 - ASME LTR: GUIDE MATERIAL FOR THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS ADOPTED UNDER 192.703(B) AND APPEARED IN THE GUIDE IN 1975."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "ASME",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1976-05-01",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```