NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-027

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-027.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY: INSTRUCT ITS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO CALCULATE PRIOR TO INSTALLATION ALL OF THE FORCES ANTICIPATED TO ACT UPON A GAS MAIN AND TO COMPARE THE FORCES WITH THE DESIGN LIMITATIONS OF COUPLINGS AND OTHER FITTINGS TO BE USED IN THE INSTALLATION TO ENSURE THAT THE LIMITATIONS ARE NOT EXCEEDED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1985-11-27

Adopted Date: 1987-01-01

Overall Date Closed: 1986-06-26

Synopsis: AT 2:40 A.M., ON FEBRUARY 22, 1985, A POLICE PATROLMAN ON ROUTINE PATROL SMELLED STRONG NATURAL GAS ODORS AS HE CROSSED RAILROAD TRACKS WHILE HEADING SOUTH ON NORTH SIXTH STREET IN SHARPSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. HE RADIOED THIS INFORMATION TO THE SHARPSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT DISPATCHER AT 2:42 A.M.; THE DISPATCHER RELAYED THE INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY (GAS COMPANY) BY TELEPHONE AT 2:43 A.M., AND A GAS SERVICEMAN WAS ORDERED TO THE SCENE. AT 3:15 A.M., BEFORE THE SERVICEMAN ARRIVED AT THE SITE OF THE REPORTED LEAK, THE SHARPSVILLE INN AND A CONNECTING BUILDING EXPLODED AND BURNED, KILLING TWO PERSONS. FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVING ONSCENE MOMENTS LATER ENCOUNTERED A SECOND, SMALLER EXPLOSION WHICH INJURED ONE FIREFIGHTER. GAS COMPANY PERSONNEL SHUT OFF THE GAS TO THE LEAK SITE AT 4:15 A.M.

Ntsbnumber: DCA85AP009

Report Number: PAR-85-02

Addressee Name: National Fuel Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1986-06-26

Addressee Acronym: NFG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-02-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NATIONAL FUEL GAS DISTRIBUTION CORP. LTR: NATIONAL FUEL RELIES HEAVILY ON MANUFACTURER'S DATA CONCERNING PIPE RESTRAINING QUALITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF COUPLINGS AND FITTINGS AND REVIEWS THOSE QUALITIES AS REQUIRED BY SEC. 192.283(B) OF THE DOT TO ENSURE THAT ANY LIMITATIONS ARE NOT EXCEEDED. ALL FITTINGS AND COUPLINGS CONSIDERED FOR PURCHASE ARE EVALUATED BY THE OPERATIONS SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF THE COMPANY BEFORE BEING APPROVED FOR USE IN THE FIELD. IT HAS INSTRUCTED ITS ENGINEERING DEPT. THAT IF THE FORCES THAT COULD ACT ON THE PIPELINE COULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO EXCEED THE DESIGN LIMITATIONS OF THE COUPLINGS AND FITTINGS, IT MUST CALCULATE THE FORCES AND INSURE AN ADEQUATE SAFETY MARGIN, PRIOR TO INSTALLING THE PIPELINE.

Addressee Acronym: NFG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-06-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence