Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2014-03-12 — NY
Operator
Consolidated Edison Co Of New York
Cause
Natural Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
8 fatalities
48 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$250,000
Incident datetime
2014-03-12 09:39
Report number
Location
NY, NEW YORK
Narrative
Description of incident: on march 12, 2014 at approximately 09:31 two multi-use, five-story buildings at 1644 and 1646 park avenue (west side of park avenue between e. 116th and e. 117th streets), new york, ny, were destroyed by an explosion and fire. Eight fatalities and approximately 48 reported injuries resulted from the explosion and collapse. Con edison's response and action: at 09:13 on march 12, 2014, con edison's gas emergency response center (gerc) received a telephone report from con edison's call center of an inside and outside gas odor at 1652 park avenue. At 09:15, gerc dispatched a gas distribution services (gds) mechanic to investigate the odor report. At 09:34, gerc confirmed with new york city fire department (fdny) a scanner report of an explosion and building collapse at e. 114th st. And park avenue (the e. 114th st. Location was incorrect). At 09:38, the gds mechanic enroute to 1652 park avenue reported observing smoke, flames, and heavy activity on park avenue south of e. 119th street. Gerc dispatched additional con edison personnel to the location at approximately 09:38. Con edison personnel first arrived at the location at 09:40 and confirmed the explosion and collapse of two buildings on park avenue between e. 116th st. And e. 117th st. Numerous con edison personnel, including gds mechanics, construction crews, supervisors, planners, and managers responded to the scene of the building collapse. Con edison personnel conducted an investigation for gas migration that included adjacent buildings and accessible subsurface structures in the area. Con edison personnel identified three (3) fire bank locations for excavation to stop the flow of gas on the west side of park avenue between e 116th st and e 117th st. At approximately 13:44, a street collapse and an apparent water main break were observed in the roadway in front of 1644 and 1646 park avenue. At the time of the street collapse, there was a strong odor of gas in the area. Fire bank excavations were completed and stoppers were installed to isolate the gas supply to the affected area at approximately 13:44, and the odor of gas dissipated. The 8" low pressure polyethylene / 8" low pressure cast iron main supplying (7) services on the west side of park avenue and on the north side of e. 116th st., between park avenue and madison avenue, were isolated. Investigation: following the accident, the national transportation safety board (ntsb) took control of the incident site and began its investigation. The city of new york, the new york state public service commission, the pipeline and hazardous materials safety administration, consolidated edison company of new york, and georg fischer central plastic were parties to the investigation. During the course of the ntsb investigation, con edison provided a party submission describing the probable cause of the accident as a breach in the sewer system which caused soil erosion affecting subsurface utilities, including a cast iron water main and hdpe gas facilities, and likely resulted in an impact by falling roadway pavement which cracked the service tee to 1642 park avenue. In its accident report adopted on june 9, 2015, the ntsb determined that the probable cause of the accident was (1) the failure of the defective fusion joint at the service tee, installed by consolidated edison company of new york, inc., in 2011, that allowed natural gas to leak from the gas main and migrate into the building where it ignited and (2) a breach in the sewer line that went unrepaired by the new york city department of environmental protection since at least 2006 that allowed groundwater and soil to flow into the sewer, resulting in a loss of support for the gas main, which caused the line to sag and overstressed the defective fusion joint.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2014-03-12 09:39:00
Year
2014
Report Received Date
2014-04-11 00:00:00
Iyear
2014.0
Report Number
20140031.0
Supplemental Number
16185.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
2704
Name
Consolidated Edison Co Of New York
Operator Street Address
4 Irving Place
Operator City Name
New York
Operator State Abbreviation
NY
Operator Postal Code
10003
Local Datetime
2014-03-12 09:31:00
Location Street Address
1644/1646 Park Avenue
Location City Name
New York
Location County Name
New York
Location State Abbreviation
NY
Location Postal Code
10035-4645
Location Latitude
40.799726
Location Longitude
-73.943401
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2014-03-12 10:48:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1076464
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
30.0
Fatality Ind
Yes
Num Emp Fatalities
0
Num Contr Fatalities
0
Num Er Fatalities
0
Num Worker Fatalities
0
Num Gp Fatalities
8
Fatal
8
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
0
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
48
Injure
48
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
100.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2014-03-12 09:39:00
On Site Datetime
2014-03-12 09:40:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Private Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Inside A Building
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Service
Installation Year
2011.0
Pipe Diameter
2.0
Pipe Specification
Astm D2513
Pipe Manufacturer
Performance Pipe, A Division Of Chevron
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Plastic Sdr
11
Material Pe Pipe Code
3408
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 4 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
1000000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
250000.0
Est Cost Emergency
200000.0
Est Cost Other
1510000.0
Est Cost Other Details
Investigation, Documentation, Support Staff, Other Departments Involved.
Est Cost Unintentional Release
200.0
Prpty
2960200.0
Commercial Affected
4.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
98.0
Accident Psig
0.25
Normal Psig
0.25
Mop Psig
0.5
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Investigation Status
No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate)
Investigation Status Details
The section of the distribution system involved in this incident is not monitored by the controller.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Natural Force Damage
Cause Details
Earth Movement, Not Due To Heavy Rains/floods
Natural Force Type
Earth Movement, Not Due To Heavy Rains/floods
Earth Subtype
Other
Nf Other Details
Earth Movement Caused By A Sewer Breach Which Affected Subsurface Facilities, Including A Cast Iron Water Main And Hdpe Gas Facilities.
Nf Extreme Weather Ind
No
Preparer Name
K**** F****
Preparer Title
Operations Manager-Gas Emergency Response Center
Preparer Email
F*****@c****.com
Preparer Telephone
718-319-2310
Preparer Fax
718-597-5463
Authorizer Name
V***** D******
Authorizer Title
Department Manager-Gas Emergency Response Center
Authorizer Telephone
718-319-2350
Authorizer Email
D*******@c****.com
Narrative
Description of incident: on march 12, 2014 at approximately 09:31 two multi-use, five-story buildings at 1644 and 1646 park avenue (west side of park avenue between e. 116th and e. 117th streets), new york, ny, were destroyed by an explosion and fire. Eight fatalities and approximately 48 reported injuries resulted from the explosion and collapse. Con edison's response and action: at 09:13 on march 12, 2014, con edison's gas emergency response center (gerc) received a telephone report from con edison's call center of an inside and outside gas odor at 1652 park avenue. At 09:15, gerc dispatched a gas distribution services (gds) mechanic to investigate the odor report. At 09:34, gerc confirmed with new york city fire department (fdny) a scanner report of an explosion and building collapse at e. 114th st. And park avenue (the e. 114th st. Location was incorrect). At 09:38, the gds mechanic enroute to 1652 park avenue reported observing smoke, flames, and heavy activity on park avenue south of e. 119th street. Gerc dispatched additional con edison personnel to the location at approximately 09:38. Con edison personnel first arrived at the location at 09:40 and confirmed the explosion and collapse of two buildings on park avenue between e. 116th st. And e. 117th st. Numerous con edison personnel, including gds mechanics, construction crews, supervisors, planners, and managers responded to the scene of the building collapse. Con edison personnel conducted an investigation for gas migration that included adjacent buildings and accessible subsurface structures in the area. Con edison personnel identified three (3) fire bank locations for excavation to stop the flow of gas on the west side of park avenue between e 116th st and e 117th st. At approximately 13:44, a street collapse and an apparent water main break were observed in the roadway in front of 1644 and 1646 park avenue. At the time of the street collapse, there was a strong odor of gas in the area. Fire bank excavations were completed and stoppers were installed to isolate the gas supply to the affected area at approximately 13:44, and the odor of gas dissipated. The 8" low pressure polyethylene / 8" low pressure cast iron main supplying (7) services on the west side of park avenue and on the north side of e. 116th st., between park avenue and madison avenue, were isolated. Investigation: following the accident, the national transportation safety board (ntsb) took control of the incident site and began its investigation. The city of new york, the new york state public service commission, the pipeline and hazardous materials safety administration, consolidated edison company of new york, and georg fischer central plastic were parties to the investigation. During the course of the ntsb investigation, con edison provided a party submission describing the probable cause of the accident as a breach in the sewer system which caused soil erosion affecting subsurface utilities, including a cast iron water main and hdpe gas facilities, and likely resulted in an impact by falling roadway pavement which cracked the service tee to 1642 park avenue. In its accident report adopted on june 9, 2015, the ntsb determined that the probable cause of the accident was (1) the failure of the defective fusion joint at the service tee, installed by consolidated edison company of new york, inc., in 2011, that allowed natural gas to leak from the gas main and migrate into the building where it ignited and (2) a breach in the sewer line that went unrepaired by the new york city department of environmental protection since at least 2006 that allowed groundwater and soil to flow into the sewer, resulting in a loss of support for the gas main, which caused the line to sag and overstressed the defective fusion joint.
| Occurred At | 2014-03-12 09:39:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2014 |
| Report Received Date | 2014-04-11 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2014.0 |
| Report Number | 20140031.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 16185.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 2704 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Consolidated Edison Co Of New York |
| Operator Street Address | 4 Irving Place |
| Operator City Name | New York |
| Operator State Abbreviation | NY |
| Operator Postal Code | 10003 |
| Local Datetime | 2014-03-12 09:31:00 |
| Location Street Address | 1644/1646 Park Avenue |
| Location City Name | New York |
| Location County Name | New York |
| Location State Abbreviation | NY |
| Location Postal Code | 10035-4645 |
| Location Latitude | 40.799726 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -73.943401 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2014-03-12 10:48:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1076464 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 30.0 |
| Fatality Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Contr Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Er Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Worker Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Gp Fatalities | 8 |
| Fatal | 8 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 0 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 48 |
| Injure | 48 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 100.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2014-03-12 09:39:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2014-03-12 09:40:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Private Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Inside A Building |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Service |
| Installation Year | 2011.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 2.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Astm D2513 |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Performance Pipe, A Division Of Chevron |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Plastic Sdr | 11 |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 3408 |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| Class Location Type | Class 4 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 1000000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 250000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 200000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 1510000.0 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Investigation, Documentation, Support Staff, Other Departments Involved. |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 200.0 |
| Prpty | 2960200.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 4.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 98.0 |
| Accident Psig | 0.25 |
| Normal Psig | 0.25 |
| Mop Psig | 0.5 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Investigation Status | No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate) |
| Investigation Status Details | The section of the distribution system involved in this incident is not monitored by the controller. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Natural Force Damage |
| Cause Details | Earth Movement, Not Due To Heavy Rains/floods |
| Natural Force Type | Earth Movement, Not Due To Heavy Rains/floods |
| Earth Subtype | Other |
| Nf Other Details | Earth Movement Caused By A Sewer Breach Which Affected Subsurface Facilities, Including A Cast Iron Water Main And Hdpe Gas Facilities. |
| Nf Extreme Weather Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | K**** F**** |
| Preparer Title | Operations Manager-Gas Emergency Response Center |
| Preparer Email | F*****@c****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 718-319-2310 |
| Preparer Fax | 718-597-5463 |
| Authorizer Name | V***** D****** |
| Authorizer Title | Department Manager-Gas Emergency Response Center |
| Authorizer Telephone | 718-319-2350 |
| Authorizer Email | D*******@c****.com |
| Narrative | Description of incident: on march 12, 2014 at approximately 09:31 two multi-use, five-story buildings at 1644 and 1646 park avenue (west side of park avenue between e. 116th and e. 117th streets), new york, ny, were destroyed by an explosion and fire. Eight fatalities and approximately 48 reported injuries resulted from the explosion and collapse. Con edison's response and action: at 09:13 on march 12, 2014, con edison's gas emergency response center (gerc) received a telephone report from con edison's call center of an inside and outside gas odor at 1652 park avenue. At 09:15, gerc dispatched a gas distribution services (gds) mechanic to investigate the odor report. At 09:34, gerc confirmed with new york city fire department (fdny) a scanner report of an explosion and building collapse at e. 114th st. And park avenue (the e. 114th st. Location was incorrect). At 09:38, the gds mechanic enroute to 1652 park avenue reported observing smoke, flames, and heavy activity on park avenue south of e. 119th street. Gerc dispatched additional con edison personnel to the location at approximately 09:38. Con edison personnel first arrived at the location at 09:40 and confirmed the explosion and collapse of two buildings on park avenue between e. 116th st. And e. 117th st. Numerous con edison personnel, including gds mechanics, construction crews, supervisors, planners, and managers responded to the scene of the building collapse. Con edison personnel conducted an investigation for gas migration that included adjacent buildings and accessible subsurface structures in the area. Con edison personnel identified three (3) fire bank locations for excavation to stop the flow of gas on the west side of park avenue between e 116th st and e 117th st. At approximately 13:44, a street collapse and an apparent water main break were observed in the roadway in front of 1644 and 1646 park avenue. At the time of the street collapse, there was a strong odor of gas in the area. Fire bank excavations were completed and stoppers were installed to isolate the gas supply to the affected area at approximately 13:44, and the odor of gas dissipated. The 8" low pressure polyethylene / 8" low pressure cast iron main supplying (7) services on the west side of park avenue and on the north side of e. 116th st., between park avenue and madison avenue, were isolated. Investigation: following the accident, the national transportation safety board (ntsb) took control of the incident site and began its investigation. The city of new york, the new york state public service commission, the pipeline and hazardous materials safety administration, consolidated edison company of new york, and georg fischer central plastic were parties to the investigation. During the course of the ntsb investigation, con edison provided a party submission describing the probable cause of the accident as a breach in the sewer system which caused soil erosion affecting subsurface utilities, including a cast iron water main and hdpe gas facilities, and likely resulted in an impact by falling roadway pavement which cracked the service tee to 1642 park avenue. In its accident report adopted on june 9, 2015, the ntsb determined that the probable cause of the accident was (1) the failure of the defective fusion joint at the service tee, installed by consolidated edison company of new york, inc., in 2011, that allowed natural gas to leak from the gas main and migrate into the building where it ignited and (2) a breach in the sewer line that went unrepaired by the new york city department of environmental protection since at least 2006 that allowed groundwater and soil to flow into the sewer, resulting in a loss of support for the gas main, which caused the line to sag and overstressed the defective fusion joint. |
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