# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-018

**Citation:** P-76-018  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1976-02-08  
**Published:** 1976-02-08

DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF COMPRESSION COUPLINGS FOR EACH TYPE OF PIPE FOR WHICH EACH TYPE OF FITTING WILL BE USED. (URGENT)

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-018.

DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF COMPRESSION COUPLINGS FOR EACH TYPE OF PIPE FOR WHICH EACH TYPE OF FITTING WILL BE USED. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Issued Date: 1976-02-08

Adopted Date: 1976-04-29

Overall Date Closed: 1983-01-27

Synopsis: ON FEBRUARY 8, 1976, A HOUSE IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, EXPLODED AND BURNED. OF TWO PERSONS WHO WERE HOSPITALIZED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, ONE DIED.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation of this accident disclosed that the natural gas at 39-psig pressure had leaked from the compression coupled connection of a 2-inch pipe appeared to have been inserted insufficiently through the gasket and into the coupling. Gas which leaked from this joint was trapped from above by heavily compacted soil; it consequently seeped into the house, where it was ignited by an unknown source. The 2-inch plastic pipe, which was installed in 1968 by the Arizona Public Service Company, was damaged by an excavator in 1969. The gas company repaired the leak by installing a 6-inch-ling compression coupling to connect each end of the severed 2-inch plastic pipe. The repaired section was wrapped with tape which extended 3 to 4 inches over the pipe on each side of the coupling.

Ntsbnumber: DCA76FP015

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Arizona Public Service Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-01-27

Addressee Acronym: APS

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-11-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY LTR: BASED UPON A REVIEW OF EXISTING CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS AND COUPLED WITH APS' DECISION TO DISCONTINUE FUTURE USE OF THE SUBJECT COUPLINGS, THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF NEW INSTALLATION CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS.

Addressee Acronym: APS

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: APS

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-01-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-76-018>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `bf7e2b04595af122f12f1c4b813fe37cb010d291cf0ff69ef7e7ae7b0beb9d21`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T17:56:25.583Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-76-018`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-76-018",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA76FP015",
  "priority": "CLASS I",
  "overallStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1983-01-27",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2017-09-06",
  "reportNumber": "None",
  "reportUrl": null,
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P76_17_19.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Arizona Public Service Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1983-01-27",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "APS",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-11-12",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY LTR:  BASED UPON A REVIEW OF EXISTING CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS AND COUPLED WITH APS' DECISION TO DISCONTINUE FUTURE USE OF THE SUBJECT COUPLINGS, THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF NEW INSTALLATION CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "APS",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-05",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "APS",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1983-01-27",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```