Part 21 Report - 1997-061
ACCESSION #: 9701290314
LIMITORQUE
Corporation
January 23, 1997
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555
ATTENTION: Document Control Desk
SUBJECT: Potential 10 CFR 21 Condition - Counterfeit Component
Please be advised that Limitorque has discovered the existence of a
counterfeit component installed in a Limitorque actuator at a nuclear
power plant. This component is classified as "critical" by Limitorque
Corporation.
The subject component had failed which resulted in actuator
inoperability. The component was sent by the nuclear utility to
Limitorque for root cause failure analysis. This analysis revealed that
the failed component was not manufactured by Limitorque and was deficient
in several critical required attributes.
It should be noted that this component was not installed in an actuator
required to perform a safety related function. This component was
apparently purchased from the "surplus" resale market.
This advisory does not follow the normal 10 CFR 21 formatting and is
intended to act as a vehicle to alert the appropriate organizations to
this potential significant Safety issue. Licensee procurement, material
control, etc. procedures should be reviewed to ensure adequate controls
are in place to prevent a similar occurrence.
Limitorque Corporation P. O. Box 11318 5114 Woodall Road Lynchburg, VA
24506-1318 Tel. (804) 528-4400 FAX (804) 845-9736
Page 2
January 23, 1997
Counterfeit Limitorque Actuator Component
Any questions on clarifications regarding this notification may be
directed Mr. P. McQuillan, Nuclear/Special Projects Manager at (804)
528-4400 Ext 9714, or fax (804) 845-9736.
Charles L. Hylton
Vice-President of Engineering
CLH/lab
cc: Part 21 File - Evaluation #57
GENERAL INFORMATION or OTHER EVENT NUMBER: 31665
LICENSEE: LIMITORQUE CORPORATION NOTIFICATION DATE: 01/27/97
CITY: LYNCHBURG REGION: 2 NOTIFICATION TIME: 09:35 [ET]
COUNTY: STATE: VA EVENT DATE: 01/27/97
LICENSE#: AGREEMENT: N EVENT TIME: 00:00[EST]
DOCKET: LAST UPDATE DATE: 01/27/97
NOTIFICATIONS
NRC NOTIFIED BY: HYLTON VERN HODGE NRR
HQ OPS OFFICER: CHAUNCEY GOULD
EMERGENCY CLASS: NOT APPLICABLE
10 CFR SECTION:
NINF INFORMATION ONLY
EVENT TEXT
LIMITORQUE, HAS DISCOVERED THE EXISTENCE OF A COUNTERFEIT
COMPONENT
INSTALLED IN A LIMITORQUE ACTUATOR AT A A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.
THE COMPONENT WHICH WAS INSTALLED IS CONSIDERED "CRITICAL" BY
LIMITORQUE
CORPORATION. THE SUBJECT COMPONENT, WHICH FAILED, WAS SENT TO
LIMITORQUE
FOR ROOT CAUSE FAILURE ANALYSIS. THE ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT THE
FAILED
COMPONENT WAS NOT MANUFACTURED BY LIMITORQUE AND WAS DEFICIENT.
IT
SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS COMPONENT WAS NOT INSTALLED IN AN
ACTUATOR
REQUIRED TO PERFORM A SAFETY RELATED FUNCTION. THE COMPONENT WAS
APPARENTLY PURCHASED FROM THE "SURPLUS" RESALE MARKET.
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