NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-021

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-021.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MISSOURI POWER & LIGHT COMPANY: REVIEW COMPANY RECORDS AND MAPS TO IDENTIFY LOCATIONS WHERE COMPRESSION COUPLINGS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON UNRESTRAINED PLASTIC PIPE OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH THAT THERMAL CONTRACTION COULD CAUSE SEPARATION FROM THE COUPLINGS AND TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION AS NECESSARY TO PREVENT SUCH SEPARATIONS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1981-08-03

Adopted Date: 1981-07-24

Overall Date Closed: 1982-12-30

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 8, 1981, A 2-INCH-DIAMETER PLASTIC GAS MAIN PULLED APART AT A COMPRESSION COUPLING UNDER AN ALLEY IN DOWNTOWN MEXICO, MISSOURI. NATURAL GAS AT 43-PSIG PRESSURE ESCAPED AND MIGRATED THROUGH A SANITARY SEWER INTO A NEARBY BUILDING WHERE IT WAS IGNITED BY AN UNDETERMINED SOURCE AT APPROXIMATELY 10:25 P.M. THE EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED A COMMERCIAL BUILDING, SEVERELY DAMAGED AN ADJACENT BUILDING, BROKE NEARBY WINDOWS, AND DAMAGED SEVERAL VEHICLES. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES; HOWEVER, THREE FIREFIGHTERS WERE INJURED WHILE FIGHTING THE FIRE.

Ntsbnumber: FTW81FP005

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Missouri Power and Light Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-12-30

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: MISSOURI POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY LETTER: WITH REGARD TO P-81-21, ON REVIEWING RECORDS AND MAPS TO IDENTIFY LOCATIONS OF UNRESTRAINED PLASTIC PIPE, SUCH A REVIEW WAS CARRIED OUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT IN MEXICO AND WE BELIEVE WE HAVE LOCATED ALL SUCH AREAS AND INSTALLED APPROPRIATE RESTRAINTS.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-12-30

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence