NTSB Safety Recommendation P-72-037

NTSB safety recommendation P-72-037.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE LONE STAR GAS COMPANY: UNDERTAKE A PROGRAM ACCEPTABLE TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, TO INSPECT, ON A RANDOM-SAMPLE BASIS, THE SERVICE LINE-GAS MAIN CONNECTIONS SIMILAR TO THOSE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, TO DETERMINE THEIR CURRENT CONDITION AND THE EXISTING STRESS ON THE PIPING. THE RESULTS OF THIS PROGRAM WILL DETERMINE THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON OTHER INSTALLATIONS IN THE LONE STAR SYSTEM. COPIES OF THESE TEST RESULTS SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Issued Date: 1972-11-08

Adopted Date: 1972-11-08

Overall Date Closed: 1975-12-30

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 4, 1971, A SMALL EXPLOSION AND INTENSE FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED A HOUSE AT 8300 JERRIE JO DRIVE NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS. THIS ACCIDENT CAUSED THE DEATHS OF A FATHER AND HIS TWO SONS AND THE SEVERE BURNING OF THEIR MOTHER. ALMOST 3 HOURS LATER, THE NEIGHBORING HOUSE AT 8304 JERRIE JO EXPERIENCED AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN THE GARAGE WHICH CAUSED THE DEATH OF THE WOMAN OCCUPANT AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE.

Ntsbnumber: PLD72XR006

Report Number: PAR-72-03

Addressee Name: Lone Star Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1975-12-30

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1973-08-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM LONE STAR GAS CO: LONE STAR GAS COMPANY'S CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS HAVE NEVER PERMITTED THE USE OF GALVANIZED PIPE UNDERGROUND. GALVANIZED PIPE HAS BEEN UTILIZED IN THE PAST FOR ABOVE GROUND CONNECTIONS. CONSTRUCTION RECORDS ON WORK IN THIS AREA INDICATE THAT BLACK STEEL PIPE WAS USED. ANY USE OF GALVANIZED PIPE WAS INADVERTENT AND UNUSUAL. SINCE THE DATE OF THIS OCCURRENCE, ALL OF OUR WAREHOUSES HAVE BEEN PURGED OF GALVANIZED PIPE OF ANY TYPE. ITS USE HAS BEEN PROHIBITED SINCE THE DATE OF THIS ACCIDENT, WE HAVE FOLLOWED CLOSELY ALL REPAIRS ON OUR SYSTEM. EXCAVATIONS NUMBER IN EXCESS OF 1,000 A MONTH IN THE FORT WORTH SYSTEM OF WHICH NORTH RICHLAND HILLS IS A PART. THESE EXCAVATIONS HAVE FAILED TO REVEAL A SINGLE SIMILAR INSTALLATION. IN ADDITION, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT SEVERAL SERVICES WERE DUG UP IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. THESE WERE NOT DETERMINED TO BE GALVANIZED PIPE.