NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-007

NTSB safety recommendation P-83-007.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY OF PRYOR: DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO REQUIRE PERIODIC INSPECTION OF ALL BURIED RESIDENTIAL SERVICE LINES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1983-02-04

Adopted Date: 1983-02-04

Overall Date Closed: 1994-09-19

Synopsis: ON FEBRUARY 1, 1983, A NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION DEMOLISHED A HOUSE, KILLED TWO PERSONS, AND INJURED THREE AT 705 S.W. FIRST STREET IN PRYOR, OKLAHOMA. NATURAL GAS, ESCAPING FROM A HOLE WITHIN AN EXTENSIVE AREA OF CORROSION AT AND JUST BELOW GROUND LEVEL, ON A 1/2-INCH BARE AND NONCATHODICALLY PROTECTED STEEL GAS LINE BENEATH THE HOUSE, FILLED THE ENCLOSED CRAWL SPACE BENEATH THE HOUSE, MIGRATED INTO THE HOUSE, AND WAS IGNITED BY ONE OF SEVERAL AVAILABLE IGNITION SOURCES. BEFORE THE EXPLOSION, THE ODOR OF GAS HAD BEEN DETECTED AROUND MIDNIGHT BY ONE OF THE RESIDENTS, BUT THE GAS COMPANY WAS NOT ADVISED. THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE WAS ADVISED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A GAS LEAK, AND AROUND 9:30 A.M., HE DETECTED THE ODOR OF GAS BUT DID NOT NOTIFY THE GAS COMPANY.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA83FP010

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: State of Oklahoma, City of Pryor

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1994-09-19

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1994-09-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: P-83-7 ASKED THE CITY TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO REQUIRE PERIODIC INSPECTION INSPECTION OF ALL BURIED RESIDENTIAL SERVICE LINES. THE BOARD NOTES THAT AS A PART OF ITS ANNUAL SURVEY, THE CITY CONDUCTS A WALKING SURVEY OF THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE FROM METER TO THE RESIDENCE. BASED ON THIS INFO P-83-7 HAS BEEN "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1983-02-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: CITY OF PRYOR, OKLAHOMA, LETTER: WE MUST RESPECTFULLY DECLINE TO INSTITUTE ANY PROGRAM THAT WOULD REQUIRE ANY UNREQUESTED INSPECTION OF CUSTOMER LINES BEYOND OUR METERING POINT. THE LIABILITY TO THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY BOARD (MUB), THE CITY OR PRYOR, AND ULTIMATELY THE CITIZENS OF PRYOR IS ONE WE CANNOT ACCEPT. ANY INSPECTION OF VALUE WOULD REQUIRE A PRESSURE TEST. THIS WOULD REQUIRE PLUGGING OF APPLIANCE OUTLETS TO ISOLATE THE LINE. IF A LEAK OCCURRED AT THIS LOCATION, THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER WOULD FEEL WE CONTRIBUTED TO IT. IF AN APPLIANCE MALFUNCTIONED AFTERWARDS, IT WOULD "BE OK UNTIL YOU WERE HERE." OVERPRESSURE FOR TESTING COULD CAUSE A LEAK WITH THE SAME RESULTS. A VISUAL TEST FOR CORROSION ON OLDER, BURIED LINES MAY CAUSE A PIPE THAT WAS IN POOR CONDITION, BUT NOT LEAKING, TO LEAK. LASTLY, IF WE INSPECTED, FOUND THAT THE LINES SATISFACTORY AND A LEAK OCCURRED LATER, IT IS OUR OPINION AND THAT OF OUR ATTORNEY THAT WE WOULD BE EXPOSING OURSELVES TO LITIGATION. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVISE AND ASSIST CUSTOMERS AT NO CHARGE. THESE WILL REMAIN AT THE CUSTOMER REQUEST; HOWEVER, THE MUB WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR LINES BEYOND ITS METERING POINT IN ANY MANNER. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE ASSISTANCE OF YOUR DEPARTMENT IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE TRAGIC EXPLOSION OF FEBRUARY 1, 1983, AND YOUR COOPERATION WITH THIS DEPARTMENT.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1994-07-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AS A PART OF OUR ANNUAL GAS SURVEY, WE DO A WALKING SURVEY OF THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE FROM METER TO THE RESIDENCE BY FLAME IONIZATION SURVEY EQUIPMENT.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1983-05-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence