# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-003

**Citation:** P-81-003  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1981-05-13  
**Published:** 1981-05-13

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY: INCORPORATE A SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT FOR CURB BOX INSPECTIONS IN THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL GAS METER/REGULATOR INSPECTIONS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE KENTUCKY ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION REGULATIONS.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-003.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY: INCORPORATE A SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT FOR CURB BOX INSPECTIONS IN THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL GAS METER/REGULATOR INSPECTIONS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE KENTUCKY ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION REGULATIONS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1981-05-13

Adopted Date: 1981-04-28

Overall Date Closed: 1983-02-02

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 9, 1980, A 2-INCH-DIAMETER COMPRESSION COUPLING LOCATED ON THE UPSTREAM SIDE OF A GAS METER SET ASSEMBLY IN THE BOILERROOM OF THE SIMON KENTON HIGH SCHOOL IN INDEPENDENCE, KENTUCKY, PULLED OUT OF ITS CONNECTION WITH A 2-INCH-DIAMETER GAS SERVICE LINE. NATURAL GAS AT 165-PSIG PRESSURE ESCAPED THROUGH THE 2-INCH-DIAMETER OPENING AND, SECONDS LATER, EXPLODED AND BURNED. A BASEMENT WALL WAS BLOWN DOWN, AN ADJACENT CLASSROOM WAS DAMAGED, AND ONE STUDENT WAS KILLED. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, A SECOND EXPLOSION OCCURED, WHICH INJURED 37 PERSONS AND EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED THE SHCOOL. THE GAS SERVICE LINE WAS CONNECTED TO A 4-INCH-DIAMETER GAS MAIN OWNED BY THE UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY (GAS COMPANY), A SUBSIDIARY OF THE CINCINNATI GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY, WHICH WAS UPRATING THE GAS MAIN BY CONTROLLED PRESSURE INCREASES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Ntsbnumber: DCA81AP001

Report Number: PAR-81-01

Addressee Name: Union Light, Heat and Power Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-02-02

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY LTR: UNION LIGHT'S PROGRAM FOR SERVICE COCK/VALUE ACCESSIBILITY, OPERABILITY AND RECORDS CHECK IS NOW AS FOLLOWS: (1) PHYSICAL INSPECTIONS OF ALL SERVICE COCK/VALVE BOXES FOR ACCESSIBILITY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. (2) OPERABILITY CHECK OF SERVICE COCK/VALVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY METER CHANGE. (3) CONTINUING FIELD CHECK OF SERVICE COCK/VALVE BOX LOCATION RECORDS ON A FREQUENCY NOT TO EXCEED 10 YEARS. UNION LIGHT INITIATED ITS ANNUAL ACCESSIBILITY INSPECTIONS OF ALL SERVICE COCK/VALVE BOX INSTALLATIONS IN THE EARLY 1970'S OF ALL SERVICES OF RECORD. APPROXIMATELY 58,000 WERE INSPECTED IN 1981.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-02-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-81-003>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `6d0ee81efbd8b10a8a54dcf591ac9be8f0c88012b2e851a4e8a4bb55b0aaeee5`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T12:08:19.380Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-81-003`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-81-003",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA81AP001",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1983-02-02",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-81-01",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA81AP001.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P81_1_7.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Union Light, Heat and Power Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1983-02-02",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-25",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY LTR:  UNION LIGHT'S PROGRAM FOR SERVICE COCK/VALUE ACCESSIBILITY, OPERABILITY AND RECORDS CHECK IS NOW AS FOLLOWS:  (1) PHYSICAL INSPECTIONS OF ALL SERVICE COCK/VALVE BOXES FOR ACCESSIBILITY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.  (2) OPERABILITY CHECK OF SERVICE COCK/VALVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY METER CHANGE. (3) CONTINUING FIELD CHECK OF SERVICE COCK/VALVE BOX LOCATION RECORDS ON A FREQUENCY NOT TO EXCEED 10 YEARS. UNION LIGHT INITIATED ITS ANNUAL ACCESSIBILITY INSPECTIONS OF ALL SERVICE COCK/VALVE BOX INSTALLATIONS IN THE EARLY 1970'S OF ALL SERVICES OF RECORD.  APPROXIMATELY 58,000 WERE INSPECTED IN 1981."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1983-02-02",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-08",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```