NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-022

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-022.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MISSOURI POWER & LIGHT COMPANY: INSTALL ALARMS ON THE EXISTING GAS PRESSURE AND GAS FLOW TELEMETERING EQUIPMENT TO PROMPTLY ALERT OPERATORS TO EMERGENCY CONDITIONS SUCH AS LINEBREAKS WHICH ARE EVIDENCED BY ABNORMALLY HIGH GAS FLOW RATES OR PRESSURE REDUCTIONS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1981-08-03

Adopted Date: 1981-07-24

Overall Date Closed: 2001-12-21

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 - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-12-21

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-81-22, WE HAVE SOME TELEMETERING ON OUR SYSTEM NOW. WE HAVE EXPLORED, AND WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF ADDING MORE. AS I MENTIONED IN RESPONSE TO A SIMILAR RECOMMENDATION (P-82-36) IN MY LETTER TO YOU OF OCTOBER 7, 1982, WE HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SUCH A SYSTEM.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2001-12-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The company has installed alarms on existing signals from pressure transmitters that alarm in the event of high pressure drops on its major receipt points, including the one involved in the accident. Based on this information, Safety Recommendation P-81-22 is administratively classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

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