NTSB Safety Recommendation P-86-016

NTSB safety recommendation P-86-016.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NATIONAL UTILITIES CONTRACTORS' ASSOCIATION: NOTIFY ITS MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT AND URGE THEM TO BE SURE, WHEN CONDUCTING EXCAVATION OPERATIONS NEAR BURIED GAS LINES, THAT THEIR CONSTRUCTION CREWS ARE ALERTED TO THE EXISTENCE AND PROXIMITY OF THE GAS LINES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1986-11-24

Adopted Date: 1986-11-14

Overall Date Closed: 1987-03-10

Synopsis: ABOUT 3:55 P.M., EASTERN STANDARD TIME, DECEMBER 6, 1985, A NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED THE RIVER RESTAURANT AT 268 MAIN STREET IN DERBY, CONNECTICUT. GAS ESCAPING FROM A BROKEN GAS MAIN AT A PRESSURE OF ABOUT 1 POUND PER SQUARE INCH HAD ESCAPED, MIGRATED INTO THE RESTAURANT BASEMENT, IGNITED, EXPLODED, AND BURNED. OF THE 18 PERSONS INSIDE THE RESTAURANT AT THE TIME, 6 WERE KILLED AND 12 WERE INJURED; 1 PASSERBY AND 1 FIREFIGHTER WERE ALSO INJURED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE STREET ADJACENT TO THE RESTAURANT WAS EXCAVATED WHERE A 24-INCH DIAMETER SEWER SYSTEM HAD JUST BEEN INSTALLED; AN 87-YEAR-OLD, 3-INCH DIAMETER, CAST-IRON NATURAL GAS MAIN WAS FOUND BROKEN.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA86FP004

Report Number: PAR-86-02

Addressee Name: National Utility Contractors Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1987-03-10

Addressee Acronym: NUCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1986-12-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: IN RESPONSE TO YOUR RECOMMENDATION WE ARE SENDING COPIES OF YOUR MEMO TO OUR 40 CHAPTER AFFILIATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THEY WILL IN TURN DISSEMINATE THIS INFORMATION TO THEIR MEMBERS.

Addressee Acronym: NUCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1987-03-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence