NTSB Safety Recommendation P-90-023

NTSB safety recommendation P-90-023.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE CALNEV PIPE LINE COMPANY: PROVIDE A MEANS FOR TESTING ALL MAINLINE CHECK VALVES TO DETERMINE THAT THEY FUNCTION PROPERLY AND TEST THESE VALVES ANNUALLY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Issued Date: 1990-07-20

Adopted Date: 1990-06-19

Overall Date Closed: 2002-04-03

Synopsis: ABOUT 7:36 A.M., PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, ON MAY 12, 1989, SOUTHERN PACIFIC TRANSPORTATION COMPANY (SP) FREIGHT TRAIN 1-MJLBP-111, WHICH CONSISTED OF A FOUR-UNIT LOCOMOTIVE ON THE HEAD END OF THE TRAIN, 69 HOPPER CARS LOADED WITH TRONA, AND A TWO-UNIT HELPER LOCOMOTIVE ON THE REAR OF THE TRAIN, DERAILED AT MILEPOST 486.8, IN SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA. THE ENTIRE TRAIN WAS DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF THE DERAIL MENT. SEVEN HOMES LOCATED IN THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD WERE TOTALLY DESTROYED AND FOUR OTHERS WERE EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. OF THE FIVE CREWMEMBERS ON BOARD THE TRAIN, TWO ON THE HEAD END OF THE TRAIN WERE KILLED, ONE RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES, AND THE TWO ON THE REAR END OF THE TRAIN RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. OF EIGHT RESIDENTS IN THEIR HOMES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, TWO WERE KILLED AND ONE RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AS A RESULT OF BEING TRAPPED UNDER DEBRIS FOR 15 HOURS, LOCAL OFFICIALS EVACUATED HOMED IN THE SURROUNDING AREA BECAUSE OF A CONCERN THAT A 14-INCH PIPELINE OWNED BY THE CALNEV PIPE LINE COMPANY, WHICH WAS TRANSPORTING GAS OLINE AND WAS LOCATED UNDER THE WRECKAGE, MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE OR WAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING DAMAGED DURING WRECKAGE CLEARING OPERATIONS. RESI DENTS WERE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE DERAILMENT. ABOUT 8:05 A.M., ON MAY 25, 1989, 13 DAYS AFTER TRAIN DERAILMENT. THE 14-INCH PIPELINE RUPTURED AT THE SITE OF DERAILMENT RELEASED ITS PRODUCT, AND IGNITED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA89MR004

Report Number: RAR-90-02

Addressee Name: Calnev Pipeline Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-04-03

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-04-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Classified as "Closed--Unacceptable Action/No Response Received" administratively by Board action.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2001-03-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board has received no reply from Calnev regarding Safety Recommendation P-90-23. The Board would appreciate learning what action, if any, your association has taken to implement this recommendation. A copy of the original recommendation letter is enclosed. Please refer to Safety Recommendation P-90-22 and -23 in your reply, and address your response to Ms. Carol J. Carmody, Acting Chairman.