NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-021

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-021.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION: NOTIFY ITS MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE ACCIDENT IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1984, AND URGE THEM TO ANALYZE THEIR LEAK RECORDS FOR SIMILAR ABS PIPE MATERIAL FAILURES TO DETERMINE WHETHER A SAFETY HAZARD EXISTS WITHIN THEIR SYSTEMS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1985-07-01

Adopted Date: 1985-06-12

Overall Date Closed: 1986-01-15

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: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1986-01-15

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1985-09-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE AGA COORDINATING GROUP FOR PIPELINE SAFETY RECOMMENDS THAT THE ATTACHED NTSB RECOMMENDATION BE DISTRIBUTED TO APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL WITHIN EACH COMPANY FOR ANY ACTION DEEMED NECESSARY.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1986-01-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence