NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-030

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-030.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GAS ASSOCIATION: NOTIFY MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT IN SHARPSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ON FEBRUARY 22, 1985, AND URGE THEM, WHEN USING COUPLINGS TO JOIN PLASTIC PIPE, TO ESTABLISH THAT THE FORCES ANTICIPATED TO ACT UPON THE COUPLINGS AND THE PLASTIC PIPE ARE WITHIN THE DESIGN LIMITATIONS SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1985-11-27

Adopted Date: 1987-01-01

Overall Date Closed: 1989-01-18

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 INFOR MATION 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: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-12-12

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-08-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ENCLOSED IS THE REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD ON THE SUBJECT INCIDENT WHICH RECOMMENDS THAT AGA: [RECOMMENDATION FOLLOWS]. IN ADDITION TO THE INFORMATION IN THE NTSB REPORT, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE INVESTIGATION BY NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AFTER THE INCIDENT INDICATED THAT THE COUPLING IN QUESTION MAY HAVE ALLOWED THE PLASTIC PIPE TO PULL OUT AT LESS THAN ITS RATED CAPACITY. OUR COORDINATED GROUP FOR PIPELINE SAFETY HAS REVIEWED THIS SAFETY RECOMMENDATION AND RECOMMENDED ITS DISTRIBUTION TO OUR MEMBER COMPANIES. WHEN USING COUPLINGS TO JOIN PLASTIC PIPE, WE URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE FORCES ANTICIPATED TO ACT ON THE COUPLING AND ASSURE THAT THESE FORCES WILL NOT EXCEED THE CAPABILITIES OF THE COUPLING.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1987-03-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-12-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Name: American Public Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1989-01-18

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-09-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THIS LETTER IS IN REGARD TO YOUR NOVEMBER 27, 1985 SAFETY RECOMMENDATION TO MR. ARIE VERRIPS PAST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GAS ASSOCIATION. APGA HAS REVIEWED THIS PROPOSED SAFETY RECOMMENDATION AND SENT THE ENCLOSED BULLETIN TO ALL PUBLIC GAS SYSTEM OPERATORS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-01-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence