NTSB Safety Recommendation P-84-047

NTSB safety recommendation P-84-047.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT COLUMBIA GAS OF PENNSYLVANIA: EXPOSE AND INSPECT THE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED LEAKS IN THE CAST-IRON STEEL DISTRIBUTION MAINS IN THE VICINITY OF WEST KING AND SOUTH BEAVER STREETS, YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, TO ASCERTAIN THE CAUSE OF THE LEAKS AND, IF INDICATED, INSTITUTE A PROGRAM OF CORRECTIVE ACTIONS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1984-11-27

Adopted Date: 1984-11-10

Overall Date Closed: 1985-05-03

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 19, 1984, NATURAL GAS AT 20 PSIG LEAKED FROM COLUMBIA GAS OF PENNSYLVANIA'S (COLUMBIA) 12-INCH STEEL DISTRIBUTION PIPELINE WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN 1954 ALONG WEST KING STREET, IN YORK, PENNSYLVANIA. GAS ESCAPING FROM A CRACKED CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD MIGRATED UNDERGROUND AND ENTERED THE BASEMENT OF A THREE-STORY BUILDING AT 31-33 WEST KING STREET WHERE IT WAS IGNITED BY AN UNDETERMINED SOURCE. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION AND FIRE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE BUILDING AND AN ADJACENT VACANT BUILDING, INJURED EIGHT PERSONS LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE THREE-STORY BUILDING, AND BROKE WINDOWS IN BUILDINGS NEARBY.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA84FP015

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: NiSource, Inc. (formerly Columbia Gas)

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1985-05-03

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1985-01-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: COLUMBIA GAS DISTRIBUTION LTR: THE CAUSES OF THE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED LEAKS IN THE VICINITY OF WEST KING AND SOUTH BEAVER STREETS WERE REVIEWED AND IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN DUE TO CORROSION OF THE STEEL PIPE AND LOSS OF PACKING COMPRESSION IN THE CAST IRON PIPING JOINTS, NONE OF WHICH INVOLVED WELDS. AS A RESULT OF THESE FINDINGS, FUTURE INSPECTIONS OF THESE LINES WILL BE MADE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR NORMAL LEAKAGE SURVEYS. IN ADDITION, IT HAS BEEN CLEARLY ESTABLISHED THAT THE CAST-IRON AND STEEL MAINS REFERRED TO IN THIS RECOMMENDATION WERE FREE OF LEAKAGE AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT AND IN NO WAY CONTRIBUTED TO THE EVENTS OF 1/19/84. THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF PREVIOUS LEAKAGE IN THE VICINITY OF WEST KING AND SOUTH BEAVER STREETS WAS DETERMINED TO BE ON A 75' - 4" BARE STEEL BYPASS LINE. LACKING ANY FURTHER NEED FOR THIS BYPASS, IT WAS PERMANENTLY REMOVED FROM SERVICE.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1985-05-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence