NTSB Safety Recommendation P-73-001

NTSB safety recommendation P-73-001.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY: TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS A CONTINUING HAZARD IN THE GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN ADAMSVILLE, WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(B) OF THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE SAFETY ACT OF 1968, WHICH STATES IN PART, "WHENEVER THE SECRETARY SHALL FIND A PARTICLAR FACILITY TO BE HAZARDOUS TO LIFE OR PROPERTY, HE SHALL BE EMPOWERED TO REQUIRE THE PERSON OPERATING SUCH FACILITY TO TAKE SUCH STEPS NECESSARY TO REMOVE SUCH HAZARDS."

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1973-04-19

Adopted Date: 1973-04-04

Overall Date Closed: 1976-09-10

Synopsis: AN EXPLOSION WHICH KILLED THREE PERSONS AND INJURED TWO OTHERS, OCCURRED IN A STORE AND ATTACHED APARTMENT. A 2-INCH CAST IRON MAIN NEAR THE BUILDING, WHICH HAD BEEN OPERATED AT 17 P.S.I.G., WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY. THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IS OPERATED BY THE GRAYSVILLE MUNICIPAL GAS SYSTEM, AND THE CAST IRON PIPING WAS REPORTEDLY INSTALLED IN 1949-1950. SIMILAR ACCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE ALSO OCCURRED IN ADAMSVILLE ON NOVEMBER 12, 1972, AND ON FEBRUARY 15, 1973.

Ntsbnumber: PLD73XR002

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1976-09-10