NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-030

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-030.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION: NOTIFY ITS MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT AND URGE THEM TO INSPECT THEIR REGULATOR STATION RELIEF VALVES OR OTHER OVERPRESSURE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SET AND OPERATING PROPERLY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1982-09-08

Adopted Date: 1982-08-24

Overall Date Closed: 1983-01-04

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 28, 1982, AT CENTRALIA, MISSOURI, NATURAL GAS AT 47 PSIG ENTERED A LOW PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WHICH NORMALLY OPERATED AT 11 INCHES WATER COLUMN (0.40 PSIG) AFTER A BACKHOE BUCKET SNAGGED, RUPTURED, AND SEPARATED THE 3/4-INCH-DIAMETER STEEL PRESSURE REGULATOR CONTROL LINE AT THE MISSOURI POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY'S DISTRICT REGULATOR STATION NO. 1. THE BACKHOE, WHICH WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE CITY OF CENTRALIA, WAS BEING USED TO CLEAN A DITCH LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE PRESSURE REGULATOR STATION. THE HIGH PRESSURE GAS ENTERING CUSTOMER PIPING SYSTEMS IN SOME CASES RESULTED IN HIGH PILOT LIGHT FLAMES WHICH INITIATED FIRES IN BUILDINGS; WHILE IN OTHER CASES, THE PILOT LIGHT FLAMES WERE BLOWN OUT, ALLOWING GAS TO ESCAPE WITHIN THE BUILDINGS. OF THE 167 BUILDINGS AFFECTED BY THE OVER PRESSURE, 12 WERE DESTROYED AND 32 SUSTAINED MODERATE TO HEAVY DAMAGES. FIVE PERSONS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA82MP010

Report Number: PAR-82-03

Addressee Name: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-01-04

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-11-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION NOTE TO AGA MEMBER COMPANY DELEGATES: MEMBER COMPANIES ARE URGED TO REVIEW THEIR OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES RELATING TO OVERPRESSURE PROTECTION TO ENSURE THAT PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILE FOR TESTING AND MAINTENANCE WORK ON REGULATOR STATIONS ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND COMPLYING WITH REQUIREMENTS OF TITLE 49, PART 192.739, PRESSURE LIMITING AND REGULATION STATIONS; INSPECTION AND TESTING.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-01-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence