YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Three weeks after a deadly blast inside a downtown Youngstown building, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary report.
The NTSB says that the May 28 Realty Tower building explosion occurred approximately six minutes after a four-person scrap-removal crew cut a gas pipeline in the basement. The crew later told NTSB investigators they were not aware that the line was pressurized.
"The crewmember stated he used a reciprocating saw to cut into one of the pipes he had been told was “dead,” or not transporting gas, but partway through the process, he heard a loud whistling sound and felt gas blowing into his face from the cut pipe," the NTSB's report says. "The crew immediately exited the basement area and called 9-1-1 to report the gas leak. At 2:39 p.m., as they exited, a crewmember pulled the fire alarm on the first floor to alert residents and workers in the building. Another crewmember notified bank employees on the first floor about the gas leak."
At 2:44, the building that houses a Chase Bank, plus offices and residences, exploded. Chase Bank employee Akil Drake, 27, was killed, while nine others were injured.
Surveillance video from inside the building shows moments just prior to the blast, as residents hastily evacuated the scene amid the fire alarm.
The explosion caused "significant structural damage" to Realty Tower, with a structural engineer stating last week that the building is in "imminent danger of collapse."
The NTSB says the scrap-removal crew, engaged by contractor GreenHeart Companies LLC (GreenHeart), were working in a basement area located just northeast of the building, underneath the sidewalk. The city of Youngstown contracted GreenHeart "to remove and relocate utilities in preparation for a city road improvement project," the NTSB noted.
At the time of the accident, the scrap-removal crew "was removing old utilities and other items from the basement area."
The NTSB noted that Enbridge Gas Ohio, which provides natural gas to businesses and residences inside Realty Tower, conducted an initial pressure test of the main and service line after the explosion and found that the pipeline "failed to hold pressure" and crews heard "a hissing noise" coming from the cut made by the scrap removal crew.
At the time of the accident, the NTSB says the "inactive service line" had been pressurized with natural gas to about 38 pounds per square inch. One day after the explosion, the inactive service line was capped. "Enbridge performed a successful second pressure test of the main and the active and inactive service lines. The pipeline held pressure, and a leak survey of the area found no other leaks," the NTSB added.
So where does the NTSB's investigation go from here?
The agency says "future investigative activity will focus on the pipeline operator’s procedures and practices for meter removal, record keeping, and abandoning gas facilities; ownership of the inactive service line; the companies associated with the Realty Tower Building; and GreenHeart operational practices and policies for work crews."
The NTSB's final report is expected to take 12 to 24 months to complete. You can read their preliminary report here. The NTSB is leading the investigation because pipelines are considered a mode of transportation.
Previous Reporting:
- Amid fears of Realty Tower collapse, Youngstown mayor orders residents in nearby apartment building to evacuate
- WATCH | Video shows people escaping Youngstown building before deadly explosion
- National Transportation Safety Board says cut gas line will be 'central focus' of Youngstown building explosion investigation
- 'This tragedy hit our community pretty hard': Youngstown officials provide update following deadly explosion at Chase Bank building
- Updates: 1 found dead after explosion at Chase Bank building in Youngstown