The National Transportation Safety Board has actually provided its record on the February 11, 2019 event in which the hauling vessel Lindberg Crosby, with a team of 4, endured a loss of engine control and also struck the Interstate 10 (I-10) bridge.
The event took place while the 1975-built towboat, possessed by Crosby Tugs, LLC, was trying to dock a vacant storage tank barge at the close-by Southwest Shipyard dock on the San Jacinto River in Channelview,Texas
No contamination or injuries were reported. Damage to the bridge and also barge was approximated at $1,595,887.
POSSIBLE REASON
The NTSB record keeps in mind that the vessel’s propulsion system contained 2 General Motors 12V71 diesel motor and also Twin Disc decrease equipments with incorporated transmissions. Each propulsion engine’s rate (rpm) and also transmission (instructions) was regulated by a pneumatically-driven system that was run by a throttle bar on the wheelhouse console. Moving the engine throttle bars sent out 2 pressed air signals per engine: one signal changed the engine rate by relocating its gas shelf, and also the various other signal activated a pneumatically-driven cyndrical tube that was linked to the transmission’s equipment change bar, changing the engine right into in advance, neutral, or astern propulsion. The cyndrical tube was linked to the change bar by an actuation pole fitted with a threaded end that was secured right into a threaded adapter on the transmission change bar. The link was protected with a jam nut to stop the threaded pole from turning and also revoking the adapter.
The National Transportation Safety Board identified that the possible reason for the hauling vessel Lindberg Crosby calling a pier column of the Interstate 10 bridge was the undiscovered loss of starboard engine directional control because of a splitting up of the control system mechanical affiliation to the pneumatically-driven equipment clutch, causing the engine not changing in reaction to the driver’s commands.
The NTSB record consists of the adhering to note:
Ensuring Jam Nuts and also Locking Devices are Secured
Many vessels make use of mechanical links to transfer control commands to important equipment. Operators of vessels making use of flexible links that consist of jam nuts, securing nuts, or various other tools must regularly check out the setting of the nuts on shafts to validate their safety and security and also create treatments to properly make sure important control system parts are consisted of in preventative upkeep programs. Component and also control system suppliers must give guidance/options for passively protecting jam nuts, such as securing cable, securing washing machines, protecting tabs, thread-locking insert products, thread-locking liquid, or various other ways.
Read the NTSB record HERE
