# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-028

**Citation:** P-78-028  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1978-07-19  
**Published:** 1978-07-19

WRITE INSTALLATION PROCEDURES ON HOW TO MAKE UP EACH TYPE OF PLASTIC PIPE JOINT BASED ON TESTS THAT HAVE PROVEN THAT THE JOINT IS AS STRONG AS THE PIPE BEING JOINED, AND TEST EMPLOYEES ON COMPLIANCE AND PROFICIENCY.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-028.

WRITE INSTALLATION PROCEDURES ON HOW TO MAKE UP EACH TYPE OF PLASTIC PIPE JOINT BASED ON TESTS THAT HAVE PROVEN THAT THE JOINT IS AS STRONG AS THE PIPE BEING JOINED, AND TEST EMPLOYEES ON COMPLIANCE AND PROFICIENCY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-07-19

Adopted Date: 1978-07-05

Overall Date Closed: 1982-08-03

Synopsis: ON DECEMBER 15, 1977, A 2-INCH PLASTIC GAS MAIN UNDER AN ALLEY IN DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE, KANSAS, PULLED OUT OF A COMPRESSION COUPLING WHICH JOINED IT TO A STEEL GAS MAIN. NATURAL GAS ESCAPED FROM THE MAIN AND MIGRATED THROUGH THE STONE FOUNDATION WALLS OF TWO NEARBY BUILDINGS. THE ACCUMULATIONS OF GAS IN THE TWO BUILDINGS IGNITED. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED ONE BUILDING, SEVERELY DAMAGED THE OTHER BUILDING, AND BROKE NEARBY WINDOWS. TWO PERSONS WERE KILLED AND THREE PERSONS WERE INJURED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA78MP005

Report Number: PAR-78-04

Addressee Name: Kansas Public Service Company, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-08-03

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-04-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: KANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY LTR: THE FIRM OF ROBERT R. BAYLES AND ASSOCIATES, CONSULTING ENGINEERS OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, WAS CONTACTED IN 1978 AND HAVE PERFORMED CONSULT ING WORK FOR OUR FIRM SINCE JULY OF THAT YEAR. THE SERVICES INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN PREPARATION OF INSTALLATION PROCE DURES FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF PLASTIC PIPE JOINTS.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-12-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-08-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-78-028>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `1f9ac23d7d34f0f64e7f8ce3581559525903fbb96a8a648696bea143ada77cb4`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T10:24:44.244Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-78-028`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-78-028",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA78MP005",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1982-08-03",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-78-04",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA78MP005.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P78_25_32.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Kansas Public Service Company, Inc.",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1982-08-03",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-04-13",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "KANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY LTR:  THE FIRM OF ROBERT R. BAYLES AND ASSOCIATES, CONSULTING ENGINEERS OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, WAS CONTACTED IN 1978 AND HAVE PERFORMED CONSULT ING WORK FOR OUR FIRM SINCE JULY OF THAT YEAR.  THE SERVICES INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN PREPARATION OF INSTALLATION PROCE DURES FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF PLASTIC PIPE JOINTS."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1978-12-14",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-08-03",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```