NTSB Safety Recommendation P-86-018

NTSB safety recommendation P-86-018.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT: ESTABLISH CONTRACTS THAT INVOLVE EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES SPECIFIC AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR DETECTING AND CORRECTING ANY UNSAFE ACTIVITIES AND SPECIFICALLY PROVIDE FOR STOPPING ALL EXCAVATION-RELATED WORK UNTIL THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS ARE CORRECTED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1986-11-24

Adopted Date: 1986-11-14

Overall Date Closed: 2002-06-07

Synopsis: ABOUT 3:55 P.M., EASTERN STANDARD TIME, DECEMBER 6, 1985, A NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED THE RIVER RESTAU RANT 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 BASE MENT, IGNITED, EXPLODED, AND BURNED. OF THE 18 PERSONS INSIDE THE RESTAURANT AT THE TIME, 6 WERE KILLED AND 12 WER 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: State of Connecticut, City of Derby

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-06-07

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2002-06-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Closed administratively based on the City of Derby's November 2, 1988 response.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1988-11-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1988-11-30

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1988-10-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence