NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-028

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-028.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY: CONDUCT A SYSTEMWIDE SURVEY TO IDENTIFY ANY OTHER LOCATIONS WHERE THE 6-INCH-DIAMETER 700 "POSI-HOLD" COUPLINGS WITH PLAIN ROLLER-GRIP GASKETS WERE INSTALLED ON PLASTIC PIPE, INSPECT THOSE LOCATIONS FOR INDICATIONS OF PIPE PULLOUT, AND REPLACE THE COUPLINGS OR ANCHOR THE PIPE AS REQUIRED.

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 HAS SURVEYED ALL LOCATIONS WHERE THE 6-INCH DIAMETER 700 "POSI HOLD" COUPLINGS WITH PLAIN ROLLER GRIP GASKETS WERE INSTALLED ON PLASTIC PIPE. ALL KNOWN COUPLINGS OF THIS PARTICULAR STYLE INSTALLED ON PLASTIC PIPE, HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM SERVICE.

Addressee Acronym: NFG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-06-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence