# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-066

**Citation:** P-80-066  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1980-09-24  
**Published:** 1980-09-24

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE TEXAS PIPELINE COMPANY: REVIEW THE PRACTICE OF USING FILLET-WELDED REINFORCEMENT SLEEVES FOR TIE-IN WELDS TO DETERMINE IF THESE SLEEVES HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF ANY PIPELINE FAILURES IN ITS SYSTEM, AND BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THIS REVIEW, REVISE COMPANY PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE USE OF THESE SLEEVES.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-066.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE TEXAS PIPELINE COMPANY: REVIEW THE PRACTICE OF USING FILLET-WELDED REINFORCEMENT SLEEVES FOR TIE-IN WELDS TO DETERMINE IF THESE SLEEVES HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF ANY PIPELINE FAILURES IN ITS SYSTEM, AND BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THIS REVIEW, REVISE COMPANY PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE USE OF THESE SLEEVES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-09-24

Adopted Date: 1980-09-16

Overall Date Closed: 1981-02-11

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 2, 1980, CRUDE OIL LEAKED FROM A FRACTURED 22-INCH PIPELINE AT A LEVEE CROSSING AT BERWICK, LOUISIANA; THE PIPELINE IS OWNED BY THE TEXAS PIPELINE COMPANY AND RUNS BETWEEN HOUMA AND ERATH, LOUISIANA. AT 9:54 A.M., THE CRUDE OIL IGNITED. ONE PERSON WAS KILLED, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED, AND SIX HOMES WERE EITHER DESTROYED OR DAMAGED.

Ntsbnumber: FTW80FP002

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Texas Pipeline Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1981-02-11

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1980-12-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TEXAS PIPE LINE COMPANY LTR: THE TEXAS PIPE LINE COMPANY HAS NEVER HAD A GENERAL PRACTICE OF USING FILLET-WELDED REINFORCEMENT SLEEVES FOR TIE-IN WELDS. THE ONLY PREVIOUS PIPE FAILURE FROM A FILLET-WELDED REINFORCEMENT SLEEVE OCCURRED ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO. BECAUSE THE USE OF FILLET WELDED FULL ENCIRCLEMENT SLEEVES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO REPAIR HIGH PRESSURE PIPE IS ACCEPTABLE INDUSTRY PRACTICE, THE TEXAS PIPE LINE COMPANY HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS TO ITS LINE MANAGERS: "EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY FILLET-WELDED FULL ENCIRCLEMENT SLEEVES SHALL NOT BE PERMANENTLY INSTALLED IN LOCATIONS OF UNUSUAL STRESS SUCH AS IN THE TOPS OF LEVEES OR WITH 3-FEET OF OVERBENDS, UNDERBENDS, OR SIDEBENDS."

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1981-02-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-80-066>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `07118e9b737780ecded7230240a53ab79c0bf175212acbe62a153ba9d61cfbea`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T11:29:12.480Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-80-066`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-80-066",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "FTW80FP002",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1981-02-11",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "None",
  "reportUrl": null,
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P80_66_68.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Texas Pipeline Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1981-02-11",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1980-12-03",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "TEXAS PIPE LINE COMPANY LTR:  THE TEXAS PIPE LINE COMPANY HAS NEVER HAD A GENERAL PRACTICE OF USING FILLET-WELDED REINFORCEMENT SLEEVES FOR TIE-IN WELDS.  THE ONLY PREVIOUS PIPE FAILURE FROM A FILLET-WELDED REINFORCEMENT SLEEVE OCCURRED ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO.  BECAUSE THE USE OF FILLET WELDED FULL ENCIRCLEMENT SLEEVES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO REPAIR HIGH PRESSURE PIPE IS ACCEPTABLE INDUSTRY PRACTICE, THE TEXAS PIPE LINE COMPANY HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS TO ITS LINE MANAGERS:  \"EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY FILLET-WELDED FULL ENCIRCLEMENT SLEEVES SHALL NOT BE PERMANENTLY INSTALLED IN LOCATIONS OF UNUSUAL STRESS SUCH AS IN THE TOPS OF LEVEES OR WITH 3-FEET OF OVERBENDS, UNDERBENDS, OR SIDEBENDS.\""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1981-02-11",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```