Event Notification Report for July 19, 2017
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
07/18/2017 - 07/19/2017
EVENT NUMBERS
52866
Non-Agreement State
Event Number: 52866
Rep Org: DEPT OF NAVY RADIATION SAFETY CMTE
Licensee: DEPT OF NAVY RADIATION SAFETY CMTE
Region: 1
City: Arlington State: VA
County:
License #: 45-23645-0INA
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JERRY SANDERS
HQ OPS Officer: DAN LIVERMORE
Licensee: DEPT OF NAVY RADIATION SAFETY CMTE
Region: 1
City: Arlington State: VA
County:
License #: 45-23645-0INA
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JERRY SANDERS
HQ OPS Officer: DAN LIVERMORE
Notification Date: 07/20/2017
Notification Time: 15:40 [ET]
Event Date: 07/19/2017
Event Time: 17:30 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 07/20/2017
Notification Time: 15:40 [ET]
Event Date: 07/19/2017
Event Time: 17:30 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 07/20/2017
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
Person (Organization):
ANNE DeFRANCISCO (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
ANNE DeFRANCISCO (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
LOSS OF HELICOPTER INTEGRATED BLADE INSPECTION SYSTEM WITH 500 MICROCURIE STRONTIUM 90 SOURCE
"At 1730 on 19 July 2017, HM-15 aircraft 13 had the Main Rotor Fairing, commonly referred to as the 'beanie', depart in flight. The 'beanie' cover is constructed of fiberglass, is circular in shape and 5 feet in diameter, weighing approximately 20 pounds. In addition to the beanie, we discovered that one of the In-flight Blade Inspection System (IBIS) Indicators also departed the aircraft. Loss of this IBIS Indicator is of concern because it contains strontium-90 which is radioactive material. Loss of this IBIS Indicator was not discovered until the aircraft shutdown on its line at Naval Station Norfolk.
"Location lost: Approximately 100 miles west of Norfolk, VA over the Roanoke River near Lake Gaston. The location is just north of the Virginia / North Carolina border over the Roanoke River approximately 3 miles east of the Kerr Lake Power Plant."
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
"At 1730 on 19 July 2017, HM-15 aircraft 13 had the Main Rotor Fairing, commonly referred to as the 'beanie', depart in flight. The 'beanie' cover is constructed of fiberglass, is circular in shape and 5 feet in diameter, weighing approximately 20 pounds. In addition to the beanie, we discovered that one of the In-flight Blade Inspection System (IBIS) Indicators also departed the aircraft. Loss of this IBIS Indicator is of concern because it contains strontium-90 which is radioactive material. Loss of this IBIS Indicator was not discovered until the aircraft shutdown on its line at Naval Station Norfolk.
"Location lost: Approximately 100 miles west of Norfolk, VA over the Roanoke River near Lake Gaston. The location is just north of the Virginia / North Carolina border over the Roanoke River approximately 3 miles east of the Kerr Lake Power Plant."
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf