NTSB Safety Recommendation P-72-004

NTSB safety recommendation P-72-004.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT: THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION INCORPORATE BY REFERENCE IN 49 CFR 195.422, PIPELINE REPAIRS, THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE PETROLEUM SAFETY DATA SHEET - REPAIRS TO CRUDE OIL, LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS, AND PRODUCTS PIPELINES, PSD 2200 - JUNE, 1964.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1971-12-08

Adopted Date: 1971-12-08

Overall Date Closed: 1975-12-30

Synopsis: ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1970, A PIPELINE LEAK OCCURRED IN THE COLONIAL PIPELINE SYSTEM NEAR JACKSONVILLE, MARYLAND. CONTRACTORS WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR 20 HOURS TO FIND THE LEAK, AND ON THE NEXT DAY AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED FOLLOWED BY A FIRE. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES, BUT FIVE WORKMEN WERE BURNED.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the leak was a flaw of undetermined origin in the pipe wall, crater-like in appearance, wide at the surface and narrowing down to a thin metal membrane, which failed after a period of constantly fluctuating pumping pressures. The probable cause of the explosion and fires was the ingestion of the gasoline vapor-rich atmosphere by a diesel engine which resulted in the speeding up and backfiring of the engine, igniting the atmosphere.

Ntsbnumber: DCA70MP003

Report Number: PAR-71-02

Addressee Name: FRA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1975-12-30

Addressee Acronym: FRA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1972-05-24

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM FRA: SECTION 195.422 STATES THAT THE PIPELINE SHALL BE REPAIRED TO INSURE THAT THE REPAIRS ARE MADE IN A SAFE MANNER AND ARE MADE SO AS TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY. THESE REGULATIONS ARE WRITTEN IN PERFORMANCE LANGUAGE RATHER THAN DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS. THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE, PETROLEUM SAFETY DATA SHEET - REPAIRS TO CRUDE OIL, LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS, AND PRODUCTS PIPELINES PSD 2200 - JUNE, 1964 IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT A SAFE PIPELINE REPAIR CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. EACH PIPELINE REPAIR IS DIFFERENT EVEN THOUGH THE REPAIRS ARE SIMILAR. THE PIPELINE OPERATOR WILL ACHIEVE A HIGHER DEGREE OF SAFETY IF HE IS GIVEN FLEXIBILITY IN CHOSING THE BEST WAY, OR WAYS TO ACHIEVE THE REPAIRS. 2/73 - AFTER THE BOARD'S REPORT WAS ISSUED THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE REVIEWED AND SUBSEQUENTLY REVISED PSD 2200.