NTSB Safety Recommendation P-72-005

NTSB safety recommendation P-72-005.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT: THE COLONIAL PIPELINE COMPANY PROVIDE MAPS OF THE PIPELINE ROUTE IN SUFFICIENT DETAIL TO ESTABLISH CLEARLY THE SYSTEM LOCATION WITH REGARD TO THE VARIOUS AFFECTED CIVIL AGENCIES AND RESIDENTS ALONG THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. THESE MAPS SHOULD BE KEPT CURRENT BY THE NOTATION OF PIPELINE ADDITIONS OR ROUTE CHANGES AS REQUIRED. SPECIFICALLY RECOMMENDED TO RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION ARE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, BOTH CIVIL AND VOLUNTEER; STATE, COUNTY, AND LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS; DEPARTMENTS OF WATER RESOURCES; AND ANY AGENCY CONCERNED WITH HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.

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: Colonial Pipeline Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1975-12-30