# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-014

**Citation:** P-78-014  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1978-02-08  
**Published:** 1978-02-08

CONDUCT RESEARCH TO DEVELOP SOME FORM OF DETECTOR, EITHER AS AN ODORANT OR IRRITANT, OF THE PRESENCE OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS. THE DETECTOR SHOULD BE ONE THAT WILL NOT CONTAMINATE THE PRODUCT OR MAKE IT UNSUITABLE FOR USE WITH PROCESSING CATALYSTS.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-014.

CONDUCT RESEARCH TO DEVELOP SOME FORM OF DETECTOR, EITHER AS AN ODORANT OR IRRITANT, OF THE PRESENCE OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS. THE DETECTOR SHOULD BE ONE THAT WILL NOT CONTAMINATE THE PRODUCT OR MAKE IT UNSUITABLE FOR USE WITH PROCESSING CATALYSTS.

Priority: CLASS III

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Issued Date: 1978-02-08

Adopted Date: 1978-01-12

Overall Date Closed: 1983-04-07

Synopsis: ON JULY 20, 1977, A 12-INCH PROPANE PIPELINE, OWNED BY THE CONSOLIDATED GAS SUPPLY CORPORATION, RUPTURED NEAR THE TOWN OF RUFF CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA. THE LIQUID ESCAPED FROM THE PIPELINE, VAPORIZED, AND PROPANE VAPORS SETTLED LIKE A FOG OVER THE BOTTOM OF A VALLEY. TWO MEN IN A PICKUP TRUCK ENTERED THE PROPANE CLOUD; THE TRUCK STALLED AND THE PROPANE GAS IGNITED WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RESTART THE TRUCK. THE 2 PERSONS IN THE TRUCK WERE KILLED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA77MP027

Report Number: PAR-78-01

Addressee Name: American Petroleum Institute

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-04-07

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-12-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE LETTER: MUCH RESEARCH HAS BEEN CONDUCTED ON THE SUBJECT OF RECOMMENDATION P-78-14, LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS DETECTORS. A RECENT EXAMPLE IS "A NEW LOOK AT ODORIZATION LEVELS FOR PROPANE GAS," BY BARTLESVILLE ENERGY RESEARCH CENTER, FOR THE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, 1977, (NTIS BERC/RI - 77/1).

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-04-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-78-014>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `604141c07f11f6f5bc0dfac3c20ca446f5b2a5e5525c677f9b186f926e78cf7d`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T02:11:09.612Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-78-014`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-78-014",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA77MP027",
  "priority": "CLASS III",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1983-04-07",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-78-01",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA77MP027.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P78_12_14.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "American Petroleum Institute",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1983-04-07",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "API",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-12-15",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE LETTER:  MUCH RESEARCH HAS BEEN CONDUCTED ON THE SUBJECT OF RECOMMENDATION P-78-14, LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS DETECTORS.  A RECENT EXAMPLE IS \"A NEW LOOK AT ODORIZATION LEVELS FOR PROPANE GAS,\" BY BARTLESVILLE ENERGY RESEARCH CENTER, FOR THE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, 1977, (NTIS BERC/RI - 77/1)."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "API",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1983-04-07",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "API",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-08",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```