NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-011

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-011.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION, AS SUCCESSOR TO THE ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY: CONTINUE ITS EXPEDITED SURVEY LEAK PROGRAM IN ALL AREAS OF ITS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM CONTAINED ABS PLASTIC PIPE UNTIL ALL OF THE ABS PLASTIC PIPE HAS BEEN REMOVED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1985-07-01

Adopted Date: 1985-06-12

Overall Date Closed: 1989-05-12

Synopsis: AT 3:30 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1984, AN EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY AN INTENSE NATURAL GASFED FIRE DESTROYED TWO APARTMENTS AT 3022 NORTH 37TH STREET IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. OF THE 12 PERSONS INJURED IN THE FIRE, 5 PERSONS LATER DIED. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, THE 1 1/4-INCH-DIAMETER PLASTIC GAS MAIN SUPPLYING GAS TO THE DESTROYED APARTMENTS WAS EXCAVATED AND A 3-INCH-LONG LONGITUDINAL SPLIT WAS DISCOVERED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PIPE 18 FEET FROM THE GAS METERS ON THE APARTMENT BUILDING. GAS AT 30 PSIG HAD ESCAPED THROUGH THE LONGITUDINAL SPLIT, MIGRATED INTO AND UNDER THE APARTMENTS, IGNITED, EXPLODED, AND BURNED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA84AP026

Report Number: PAR-85-01

Addressee Name: Southwest Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1989-05-12

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1989-01-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WE BEGAN AT TIME OF ACQUISITION AN EXPEDITED LEAK SURVEY PROGRAM IN ALL AREAS OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WHICH CONTAINED ABS PLASTIC. THE EXPEDITED PROGRAM CONSISTED OF A 3 MONTHS CYCLE OF SURVEY IN THE ABS AREAS. WE ARE FOLLOWING THE EXPEDITED PROGRAM AT THIS TIME AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE ABS PROGRAM IS COMPLETED.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1989-05-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-10-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence