NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-031

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-031.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: ISSUE AN ADVISORY BULLETIN TO ALERT GAS DISTRIBUTION PIPELINE OPERATORS WHO USE PLASTIC PIPE AND COUPLINGS TO ESTABLISH THAT THE FORCES ANTICIPATED TO ACT UPON THE INSTALLATION 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: 1986-04-15

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: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1986-04-15

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1986-02-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AS YOU WERE ADVISED IN MY LETTER OF JAN. 30, 1986, WE HAVE REVIEWED THE ACCIDENT DATA AND AGREED WITH THE NTSB RECOMMENDATION. ACCORDINGLY, RSPA HAS PREPARED AND DISTRIBUTED AN ADVISORY BULLETIN TO THE MORE THAN 1600 OPERATORS OF GAS PIPELINE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS LISTED IN OUR RECORDS. A COPY OF THE BULLETIN IS ENCLOSED.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1986-04-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1986-01-30

Communication Type: Official Correspondence