{"operation":"document","citation":"P-83-033","title":"NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-033","source_type":"guidance","agency":"National Transportation Safety Board","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1984-01-17","effective_on":"1984-01-17","summary":"THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY: INSTRUCT AND TEST ITS MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL IN THE CORRECT METHOD OF TIGHTENING HEAD NUTS AND BOLTS ON MACHINERY IN CRITICAL SERVICE, EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CORRECT USE OF TORQUE WRENCHES AND OF UNIFORMLY TIGHTENING THESE FITTINGS IN THE PRESCRIBED SEQUENCE.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-83-033.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-83-033.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-83-033","source_url":"https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-83-033","body":"NTSB safety recommendation P-83-033.\n\nTHE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY: INSTRUCT AND TEST ITS MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL IN THE CORRECT METHOD OF TIGHTENING HEAD NUTS AND BOLTS ON MACHINERY IN CRITICAL SERVICE, EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CORRECT USE OF TORQUE WRENCHES AND OF UNIFORMLY TIGHTENING THESE FITTINGS IN THE PRESCRIBED SEQUENCE.\n\nPriority: CLASS II\n\nOverall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action\n\nIssued Date: 1984-01-17\n\nAdopted Date: 1983-12-12\n\nOverall Date Closed: 1984-07-05\n\nSynopsis: ON MAY 26, 1983, NATURAL GAS AT 815 POUNDS/SQUARE INCH GAGE (PSIG) BEGAN TO ESCAPE THROUGH A FAILED GASKET IN A COMPRESSOR AT THE EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY'S BLANCO GASOLINE PLANT NEAR BLOOMFIELD, NEW MEXICO. THE COMPRESSOR STATION OPERATOR HEARD A LOUD NOISE, RAN TO THE VALVE MANIFOLD OUTSIDE THE COMPRESSOR BUILDING, AND TRIED TO SHUT OFF THE GAS SUPPLY TO COMPRESSOR NO. 14. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE, WHO ALSO HEARD THE NOISE, RAN INTO THE COMPRESSOR BUILDING AND TRIED TO SHUT DOWN THE COMPRESSOR ENGINE. BEFORE EITHER PERSON SUCCEEDED, THE ESCAPING GAS IGNITED, EXPLODED, AND BURNED. THE TWO EMPLOYEES WERE BURNED SEVERELY, ONE COMPRESSOR WAS DESTROYED, ANOTHER COMPRESSOR WAS DAMAGED, THE WINDOWS AND DOORS OF THE COMPRESSOR BUILDING WERE BLOWN OUT, AND OTHER STRUCTURAL DAMAGE RESULTED.\n\nProbable Cause: The probable cause was the improper tightening of compressor head bolts, which caused a compressor head gasket to rupture and release natural gas that ignited; contributing factors were El Paso’s lack of proper bolt-tightening procedures and maintenance training, and inadequate emergency-procedure training that delayed blowdown and extended the emergency.\n\nNtsbnumber: DCA83MP019\n\nReport Number: PAR-83-04\n\nAddressee Name: El Paso Natural Gas Company\n\nAddressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action\n\nAddressee Date Closed: 1984-07-05\n\nAddressee Acronym: EPNG\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1984-03-02\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence\n\nCommunication Contents: EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY LETTER: IN ADDITION, PLANT MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WILL BE INSTRUCTED IN THESE PROCEDURES AND TESTED TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THEM. EACH PLANT SUPERINTENDENT WILL KEEP A RECORD OF THIS TRAINING AND RESULTS OF THE TESTING PROGRAM.\n\nAddressee Acronym: EPNG\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1984-07-05\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence","truncated":false,"body_characters":2451}