OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14397822
BURN,AIRCRAFT,FIRE,RUPTURE,FUEL TRUCK,TANK
Event description
ONE KILLED AND FOUR INJURED IN AIRCRAFT REFUELING FIRE
Investigation abstract
A fuels crew was in the process of refueling the wing tanks of a B-52 aircraft w acuum leak tests were performed on the previous Friday. Approx. 2,600 gallons of fuel spilled on the ramp and ignited. Employee #3 was able to get out the botto m hatch of the cockpit, but his legs were burned as he ran from the aircraft. Em ployee #2 attempted to open the top hatch of the cockpit and the back of his arm s were burned. Employee #2 managed to climb out a window and jumped to the groun d. Employee #2 fractured both of his ankles when he landed. Several employees fr om inside the hanger ran out to the aircraft and carried him to safety. Employee #1 was unable to get out of the cockpit and was killed. Employee #4 ran toward the hanger and had chest pains when he got there. Employee #5 ran toward the han ger and had back pains. ith JP-4 fuel for a 24 hour standard flight check. The aircraft has a single poi nt receptacle for refueling and was being filled from a fuel truck. Employee #1 was in the cockpit operating the electrical fuel panel. Employee #1 was in commu nication with Employee #5 by means of a headset. Employees #2 and #3 were workin g on the seats in the cockpit. They should not have been working on the aircraft during the refueling operation. Employee #4 was the fuel truck driver. The wing tanks were full and the employees started filling the center wing tank. The cen ter wing tank ruptured due to a vent plug not being removed after pressure and v
Victims (5)
-
#1 Fatality Age 38 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 515
- Human factor
- 4
- Environmental factor
- 10
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Hospitalized Age 37 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 515
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 10
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#3 Hospitalized Age 46 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 18
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 515
- Human factor
- 10
- Environmental factor
- 1
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#4 Hospitalized Age 49 M
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 5
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 515
- Human factor
- 4
- Environmental factor
- 10
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#5 Hospitalized Age 34 M
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 3
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 515
- Human factor
- 4
- Environmental factor
- 10
- Task assigned
- 1
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