NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-005

NTSB safety recommendation P-83-005.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION: NOTIFY ITS MEMBERS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT IN PORTALES, NEW MEXICO, ON JUNE 28, 1982, AND URGE THEM TO COOPERATE WITH THE PIPELINE OPERATOR IN DETERMINING THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE WHEN PIPELINE FACILITIES HAVE BEEN DAMAGED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1983-01-27

Adopted Date: 1983-01-13

Overall Date Closed: 1983-06-13

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.

Ntsbnumber: DCA82MP016

Report Number: PAR-83-01

Addressee Name: American Public Works Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-06-13

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-04-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION (APWA) LETTER: AT THE ULCC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 23, 1983, THE NTSB SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-83-5 WAS UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED. APWA WILL PUBLISH AN ARTICLE IN OUR OFFICIAL MAGAZINE, THE APWA REPORTER, INFORMING OUR MEMBERS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT IN PORTALES, NEW MEXICO, ON JUNE 28, 1982. IN ADDITION, THE ARTICLE WILL URGE OUR MEMBERSHIP TO COOPERATE WITH THE PIPELINE OPERATOR IN DETERMINING THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE WHEN PIPELINE FACILITIES HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. YOU CAN BE ASSURED, ULCC AND APWA WILL CONTINUE OUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION TO MINIMIZE POTENTIAL HAZARDS TO EXCAVATORS, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITY WORKERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-06-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence