NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-003

NTSB safety recommendation P-83-003.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE GAS COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO: REVISE ITS CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND ITS TRAINING PROGRAM, AND DEVELOP EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS FOR ITS EMPLOYEES TO FOLLOW WHEN REPAIRING DAMAGED GAS FACILITIES. PARTICULAR EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON INVESTIGATING AND TESTING FOR UNSEEN PIPE SEPARATION.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1983-01-27

Adopted Date: 1983-01-13

Overall Date Closed: 1988-05-11

Synopsis: ON JUNE 28, 1982, A NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION DEMOLISHED A HOUSE, KILLED FIVE PERSONS, AND CRITICALLY INJURED ONE PERSON AT 827 WEST 18TH STREET IN PORTALES, NEW MEXICO; THE CRITICALLY INJURED PERSON DIED LATER AT A BURN TREATMENT CENTER. THE GAS SERVICE LINE TO THE HOUSE HAD BEEN DAMAGED 37 DAYS EARLIER WHEN A CONTRACTOR'S BACKHOE PULLED UP THE LINE DURING CONDUIT EXCAVATION WORK FOR THE LOCAL TELEPHONE COMPANY. AT THE SAME TIME THE LINE WAS PULLED OUT AT THE EXCAVATION SITE, THE LINE WAS PULLED OUT OF A COMPRESSION COUPLING BURIED UNDER THE STREET. THE PULLOUT AT THE EXCAVATION SITE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE PULLOUT UNDER THE STREET WAS NOT REPAIRED UNTIL AFTER THIS ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE GAS COMPANY DID NOT DETECT IT WHEN IT HAPPENED.

Probable Cause: The probable cause was the gas company's inadequate inspection of the damaged service line and failure to pressure test it after reconnection.

Keywords: Training and Education

Ntsbnumber: DCA82MP016

Report Number: PAR-83-01

Addressee Name: Gas Company of New Mexico

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-05-11

Addressee Acronym: PNM

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-03-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SINCE 1982 GAS COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO HAS REVISED ITS OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE POLICY TO REQUIRE ALL REPAIRED SERVICE LINES TO BE PRESSURE TESTED IN THEIR ENTIRETY, I.E., FROM THE MAIN TO THE METER. SINCE THIS POLICY IS A COMPANY REQUIREMENT, IT IS ALSO REFLECTED IN OUR TRAINING PROGRAM. WE DO NOT ALLOW THE USE OF COMPRESSION FITTINGS UNDERGROUND AND REMOVE THEM UPON DISCOVERY AS STANDARD PRACTICE.

Addressee Acronym: PNM

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-05-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: PNM

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-02-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence